So I was in Walmart behind the dreaded screaming kicking toddler and in normal never having a kid fashion went WTF is wrong with you shut it up. My foot started tapping my eyes started rolling and my stomach started jumping. Wait your stomach started what.... I actually got so upset I made Connor mad and he started kicking me. Thats when I realized It wont be long. I will have my own little bundle of screaming crying impatience and the truth is I'm really not acting any differently myself I just happen to be doing my fit pitching less vocally.
waiting sucks I'm 21 and I'm still terrible at it and a kid has to learn to be patient that is going to go so much better a little bit at a time. Besides even as an adult there is nothing wrong with keeping yourself respectfully entertained its why we bring book on flights produce phones that play video games and the entire reason the Ipod exists. So why do we get exasperated when tired hungry 2 year olds who have nothing to do are upset at having to stand in line. Yet we as well feed in control adults still want to stab people in the face when they count change take to long to load their carts or own a tired hungry and exasperated toddler.
So I decided I would go ahead and figure
out how to avoid or at least handle being that parent that half of
Walmart wants to shoot. and this is what I pieced together to be my survival guide.
before you go assess the situation- yes sometimes things have to be done but if its past nap time they havent eaten they are allready upset ect ect does it HAVE to be done right now.
keep them respectfully entertained- especially for long waits restaurants offices doctors ect
- Toys- Have a go bag of waiting appropriate toys no noise makers or multiple pieces think small stuffed animals and tethers for the first little bit hot-wheels and action figures later.
- Baby stages- I wonder if I can use a paci gripper to attach the toy to baby no dropping or throwing to irritate mommy
- Toddler stages- let him have his own little backpack and chose his own toys (as long as they are still waiting appropriate)
- Artistic- for those longer sit down waits keep it in the go bag always just encase you never know when a long wait will pop up and make it non messy.
- Baby stages- play dough bags leave the dough in a baggy squeeze out the air and seal off the top let him squish it around through the plastic.
- Toddler stages- coloring/activity book, pipe cleaners (he can make his own figurines)
- Material free fun- talk, explore, joke, observe, story tell, listen just make sure kids learn indoor voice once they are doing a lot of the talking
- Baby stages- play a rhyming game/sing a lullaby point out colors and shapes mine as well practice teaching early
- toddler stages- play games like Eye spy or can you find....... (exmpl. 3 different animals) make up stories for people around you play trivia or would you rather.
stay patient- getting irritated is only
going to make it worse for both of us
have snacks- even daddy gets grumpy if
he is hungry
lead by example- if mommy's huffing and bickering the kids arnt going to learn from your well planed speech
about the importance of patience and respect.
listen to the situation- a kid doesn't always need to be entertained don't make it a big deal when its not
one
be prepared to lose your place- especially once he gets older don't stand there exasperated and making everyone's life miserable. if the behavior is completely out of hand
go correct it dont just stand there mouthing im sorry like a putz.
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