Too funny and too true. Check out the book (I think they have a blog too) "I Was A Really Good Mom Before I Had Kids" for some great stories. We've all been there!

Um, M&Ms have peanuts.... even the plain ones. You're lucky you didn't have to pull the epi pen out! Yikes!

Good post. I wrote a few blog posts about this exact topic. You can check them out here, http://rachelcbriggs.blogspot.com/2009/02/adults-have-tantrums-too.html, and here, http://rachelcbriggs.blogspot.com/2009/08/over-edge.html. I'm still struggling with this. But find myself doing much better. Less freakouts by me when my son throws a tantrum. I find myself being more calm now that I am FULLY aware of MY problem. LOL.

What a great post Erin, and love the comments. Thanks for mentioning our book! From our research I can assure you that ALL moms nationwide feel the same way...
xx
Amy

I was THAT mom for about a year an a half (my daughter Sophia -> age 1 to 2.5). She was BIG on temper tantrums.. and each one involved hitting her head over and over again on something - the floor, the wall, me.. really what ever was convenient. For over a year - Every. Single. Day. It was extremely embarrassing at first. At some point along the way I realized that she probably wouldn't keep doing it if it hurt and that giving in only made it worse. She kept up the tantrums until she learned to communicate well. At 3.5 now, she's still full of vinegar but she is also amazingly well behaved and sweet. And, I'm happy (lucky) I somehow managed to not kill her spirit (plus I have a nice set of biceps from carrying her out of all those embarrassing situations!).

Too funny! I never tried NOT to be that mom. To much stress for me. Everything in moderation- because Andrew iis allowed to have bad things once in a while- most of the time he will choose to have fruit instead of the sweets. I was that kid at my friends house that would eat so much junk and soda because I never had it at home that I would leave their house bouncing off the walls. Just hearing the way Andrew says M&M's is reason enough to let him have them.... :)

This is why drive-throughs were invented. And I think car seats because they act as mini-straight jackets. If every store were equipped with a drive-through the economy would surely bounce back because moms would be able to shop again.
You are a great mom (despite chocolate before dinner) and just think of what a multi-tasker you are! A work out while getting a prescription filled.

I was the smug one too! My husband and I waited so long to have kids and I was so sure we'd be perfect at it! No TV, no candy, no bribes. Ha! We've been guilty of letting our daughter watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse on our phone so we could have twenty minutes to eat. I promise my daughter if she'll just get in the car to go to school already she can watch Dragon Tales. If she'll give me five minutes to do my hair and makeup I'll give her Goldfish crackers. And she still knows how to throw a fit and whine. The other day I had to drag her out of daycare, kicking and screaming "I don't want to go home!" That's been her only public meltdown, thank God, but I have a feeling she's just getting warmed up ...

Yes, I used to be the smug one myself. I apologize to all I have given dirty looks to. It does not matter where we go, everyone will know my daughter's name by the time we leave because I am constantly trying to control or chase after her. I don't mind the looks from strangers, but I don't appreciate it from my brother-in-law and his wife who DON'T have kids. It drives me nuts when they tell me to "enjoy this precious time... they grow up so fast... don't let her eat M&M's". Just you wait, it will be your turn, and then I will return the favor. I feel better now :)

My daughter is 1.3 months old and it's started already... the stiff body, the banging head, the screaming and the crying... thankfully we've been at home more than often... so I feel your pain. You are a great mom and these scenes only make you wiser and braver..so not to visit CVS ever again!!!! LOL... No really, don't forget that like you Alex is also adjusting to the little sister invasion (lol)... have a little patience and the next time if you can rather than trying to rush out... get out of the line and tend to him, I find that it works great on the tantrum, it gives you the chance to breath and a few minutes more are well worth it if you can get back in control.

Before I had a kid, I have to admit that I looked at people when they couldn't control their kids or their kids made messes in public. Now that I have a daughter, it's a different story. You come to have an understanding that you didn't before, and you kind of feel bad for judging unfairly before. My daughter (13 months old) throws mini fits here and there; she'll throw herself back and because it usually only happens at home, I gently lay her down and walk away from her. That stops her real quick! :) She's pretty well behaved in public and overall, she's a real sweet girl, but has an attitude that I know will take some work as she grows. They all say she gets in from me! LOL! I had a moment with my mom the other day when we were out to eat when my daughter kept screaming playfully and trying to play peek-a-boo with the table cloth. I noticed that there were crumbs and bits of food under her high chair and noted to my mom that I remembered shaking my head at people when their kids would make those messes, now my own kid was doing it...funny how I could now laugh at that. I'm still not sure if it's my job to get on my hands and knees and clean it up or the restaurant's...any thoughts?

As the mother of a two year old little girl, I know EXACTLY how you feel. When my daughter was a baby going out was just a bit easier she didn't grab nine million items, have severe temper meltdowns or just constantly say "Mommy, mommy mommy mommy" But i knew my time would come. And I too was one of those ignorant people who passed judgement and now i understand. Going out now is sometimes preparing for a trip but it works for me because i have learned my lesson, nothing like shutting down an entire isle in Publix! Now when my daughter and I have errands to run together i pack her little backpack with my "ammunition" Her snack, her juice and her toys ( which consist of her baby and her elle.) And that's IT. I make going out a game i'm that parent you hear singing Dora, or some other catchy nick jr. song and counting and what not to keep her distracted, and it usually works! If my daughter is good i praise her while we are out so she knows that is how she should behave in public. But temper tantrums will always be there, no parent is perfect, but we are to our child/ or children and you know what Moms (and Dads) that is all that matters!

my boys accompany me to 9 out of 10 shopping trips..whether it is the big grocery day or just the quick errand into the pharmacy..they DO NOT come out of the store with toys or candy`or throw fits because they did not get something..I feel it all stems from the HOME on how your children act... They get to help put with the grocery list when the time comes and they get to pick out their cereal..lunch meat..plan a dinner for everyone...you show your children respect and in turn they learn from YOU!!!! (children learn what they see happening, not necessarily taught...adults throw temper tantrums everyday and the children are ALWAYS watching and listening...be careful!!!

when my daughter was 2 - 2 1/2 she would throw mini fits at home. in public she always behaved. if we had company she always behaved. one day i was on the phone with a very good friend of mine and she heard my daughter over the phone throwing a fit, and she was so shocked that that was the same girl that always behaved. lol... it's still the joke... thankfully, when she showed her a** it was behind closed doors. if i said NO i stuck to it. even if it broke my heart, but i expect respect and i rate it. as they get older it helps them understand respect/ discipline that much better.

I have twin 3.5 yr. old boys who take their turn being the naughty one of the day or hour. One Sunday, hubby and I are sitting in church with them and Grandma and a favorite aunt & uncle. The more common sweet one, who also happens to have a mouth, was coloring and starting to make quite the noise. When I nicely asked him to be quiet he proudly annouces in church, loud enough for the entire area to hear, "NO YOU BE QUIET!" Of course, I gave him a look, and would you know our of his mouth comes a loud "LEAVE ME ALONE!" I wondered if it was acceptable to hide under the church pew in embarassment!

A little background....My two oldest are 6 and 5 less than 10 months apart and my husband has worked out of state the majority of their lives. He was home 4-5 days a month until 18 months ago. We see him more now but differently too. I spent the first three years of 5's life a total freaking zombie. We also live almost an hour from town. I didn't know that many people out here, my family is across the state and I didnt feel like day care was an option just for me to get a break even if we could have afforded it.
It was about the time the oldest turned 3, we had had a major power outage, my blazer had died, and when we did get to town between the car issues and the grocery shopping to replace all that was lost the trip was just waaaay too long. after all was said and done we stopped to eat where they proceeded to fight over everything there ever was, a lady(i use the term loosely) commented loudly about what awful children they were and obviously had not had much parenting....i remember sitting there eating with tears just streaming down my face. Chris had been out for at least 6 weeks and we had found out that morning he wouldnt be home for at least one more, the kids had had all they could take and so had I. A little old lady about 90 walked over and asked if she could sit with us and then she talked to the boys like old people can and somehow they quieted and were completely entranced with her. Bless that lady because she saved my heart that day.
Oh and btw to those of you who commented about it starting at home and if you do it right....BS both my boys have been raised the same, they don't get something every time we go to the store, they are not allowed to sit @ the dinner table and throw fits, but I can still take them in a store and will get completely different results depending on the kid. 6 will throw a fit and beg and plead 9 times out of 10. 5 will look you in the eye and ask if something costs too much and depending on how many $ you tell him it is, he will either say "Maybe next week?" if its inexpensive, or "can I spend my money on my birthday?" if its over about 30$. We do not treat them different, we have not given in to one and not the other, part of it is absolutely based on the specific child.
Steff