Amen! I hate to hear a screaming child in a store. Get a sitter, leave them with Dad, or leave the store. Once the child starts screaming there is nothing you need so badly it can't wait till you go out to the car and the screaming stops or you can take the child home and come back alone.
I also agree that tantrums should not be happening to the ordinary child once they can speak and understand things/communicate well.
Not looking for an argument...just want to point something out...it may be a rare circumstance and obviously not the case for most people but it has happened to me and I'm sure to others too.
A kid has a meltdown, no known reason for it, he's not tired or hungry, just does not want to be in whatever store, maybe he is terrified of a movie playing on one of the random store screens (yes...my son freaks out at certain movies on random TV's and I have no clue what set him off in the movie) he has Autism, but you cannot tell. He LOOKS like "an ordinary child that can speak and understand things/communicate well" because he's 6. But he can't, his comprehension and language is closer to that of a 3 year old (if that at times, it depends on the topic or day).
While I much prefer to go to the store by myself, it's not realistic. My husband is in the Military, so we don't live near family, friends are constantly moving (or we are moving) and hubby can be gone several days/weeks/months at a time, so when he is gone for training (there are lots) or deployed and since I don't live near family and since my son has Autism and is not easily placed with a babysitter (I don't trust people, most people don't get it and he has separation anxiety at times), I have no choice but to go to the store to get milk, eggs, bread, etc...and if he happens to have a meltdown, I apologize, but there is honestly no other option, I hold him (I'm 5ft so imagine how crazy I look holding an almost 7 yr old) and try to calm him down long enough to get whatever is
desperately needed, all the while getting looks from random people as though I am the devil incarnate. It feels like crap...because all I can think is "walk a day in my shoes you heartless people!" (not on the board but in the store). Our lives and challenges are not obvious to those around us, I don't have a shirt that says "Spare me, I'm already drowning! Between Autism and the Army...my sanity is already running thin."
NOW...AGAIN...I must acknowledge that MOST situations are not like this...MOST of the time, it will be the parent who just wants to look through clothes and neglect their screaming child who happens to have boogers dripping down their face (sorry...big pet peeve of mine). I have seen and met my fair share of neglectful and ridiculous parents who have very little to do with their children, so I am not condoning their behavior.
ALL I am saying is that I am a darn good mother and I cannot stand being judged for certain "behaviors" all the while knowing that the person doing the judging has no idea what it's like to be in my shoes. But rather is so annoyed with those neglectful parents that they are therefore annoyed with me, because that is what they have become accustomed to.
LOVE people....lets teach our kids LOVE...even though so and so sucks as a mom/person/whatever....I am going to LOVE that person because I don't know what they are going through...
