Don't Push My Buttons, Child

I used to run my weekly errands pretty regularly. In fact, every Tuesday you'd be sure to find me at Target, little ones in tow, looking for the newest DVD releases. Oh, and pediasure, Special K, and yadi-yadi-ya.

Not anymore. In fact, there are a number of things I don't stay on top of anymore, ever since I found this new thing called blogging. ;)

Besides that, shopping with the monsters can be downright nerve-wracking sometimes! I try to make sure to schedule it around meal or snack times - and especially around nap times.

It can be gruesome... I don't even bother going to Costco with the Hubz anymore. He's worse than the kids! He lets them stop, with the flatbed, at every single food station - leaving me to carry my 4 gallons of milk and a 4-pack of fresh OJ by my damn self. And when I give him the eye from across the way, he just shrugs and looks at the kids.

Um, who's the parent here?

But there are those moments - you know what I'm talking about - when you wonder to yourself, "Why did I even bother?" My face could tell you a million things in an instant - but when I start talking to them thru gritted teeth, they know they've crossed the line.

C. J. McMillan at This Woman's Blog wrote a post about a child being spanked in the park, then told not to cry. Which made me sad, actually - simply because the child wasn't allowed to express himself, especially after being so publicly humiliated...

Me?

I usually do the "voice" and perhaps, even the corner, if the monsters don't behave while we're out. But there have been a couple of occasions where a bottom had been smacked...

But I wouldn't tell them not to cry. At this point, I'm already kneeling down at their level, reminding them why they got busted, and what the proper way to behave is.

And it never never never ends without a hug.

Last time it was just before a little league game, and someone was throwing a full-fledged fit coz he wanted some churros. Hmph. You can bet that if someone's crying for it, he's definitely not gonna get it.

Can you imagine? These aren't 20-second conversations. They can go on for a few minutes, and I KNOW heads are turning. Look, Mom, we have an audience.

But in that moment... everything around us has vanished. All that matters is the little one in front of me.


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