Mommyto1

I'm that mom....

Posted on 06/05/09, 01:46 pm

Please give me some advise on how to manage a crying 7 week old that wants to be held a 2 year old, well that is all I need to say about her she is 2!!! In public...
Yes I am that mom carring a baby dragging the stroller behind me and constantly having to say..no come to mommy, hold the stroller...don't grab that....

What works for you!!!

• Reply #1 06/09/09  11:41am
  
  aikijedi
  if you are carrying the baby, and the 2 yo is the one you are telling to hold the stroller... WHO is IN the stroller?
  
  Know this. BOTH children are going to learn exactly how to hit your last nerve, in an attempt to get you to do their bidding. Yes, that includes a 7 week old. Don't underestimate either of their ability to manipulate their environment with precision. You have to first focus on finding your calm zone, where nothing frazzles you, and then, if/WHEN they start to freak, then you, by staying calm, won't feed the freak show.
  
  All kids do it. DO NOT let the social pressures of whatever wallflowers may be watching add to your distress. No one wants to hear a kid scream, but its much more unnerving to you than it is to anyone else. The thing that really turns heads is when mama is feeding the frenzy with her own dishevelment. Keep yourself cool. Sing a song. Laugh and be silly. Act as if you are unaffected.
  
  My son is almost 3. I will let him out of the carriage when we are in a store under the agreement that if he gives me a hard time, he's getting strapped in. Its really for his safety. AND for now, its socially acceptable, lol. Any child who WON'T ride in a stroller or carriage when mom wants them to is merely demonstrating who is in control. You decide, and if they scream, they scream.
  
  If you dont have a stroller that suits both kids, do everything you can to get one. Make sure that your child knows what NO really means. When they realize that mommy means business, they actually start to feel more secure within their appropriate boundaries.
  
  In my opinion, the only time that a child should be allowed the freedom of walking in public without holding hands is when they are exhibiting absolute obedience. THe minute that my son steps out of line, he is either having his hand held or being strapped into the carriage. Freedom has to be given in bitesized pieces, when they are proving to be able to handle that freedom. Its just not safe to give them more than their level of obedience shows they can handle. And it may vary from day to day based on their temperment. Some days, my son will carry his own shopping basket and help carry the groceries... other days he'll have to sit in the carriage and he'll cry for a minute about wanting to walk, but when he realizes its a lost cause, he'll give up and be singing a song and chatting with me, content to sit. I wish I didn't learn all of this the HARD way... I gave my daughter FARRRRR too much liberty when she was a toddler, and I'm still paying the price. I accidentally let her think she was in control, although I didn't realize that was what i was doing. Its a steep learning curve.
• Reply #2 06/10/09  2:37pm
  
  Mommyto1
  You hit it on the nail.....I have to say. I get stressed out easily.
  Thanks SOOOO MUCH.
  
  Oh and your answers to WHO IS IN THE STROLLER????
  
  Either my bag I cant hold because of the baby or nothing....
  
• Reply #3 06/17/09  6:15pm
  
  summerbda
  I give you credit for even going out in public w/both little ones! I'd be camping at home till my baby was bigger....GL
• Reply #4 09/16/09  9:04am
  
  wittsend2
  Just want to say hi! I'm the mom trying to keep the 2 year old in the cart and yelling at the 8 year old to get back here and put that back. I despise shopping with both kids and try my best to avoid it....but when i have to going to the donut case for them makes about half the trip more pleasant...sometimes they eat it while we're in line and checking out instead of trying to grab all the stuff they have on the checkouts, other times they'll eat it while i'm shopping.

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