Surviving your child's public tantrum is a rite of passage faced by all parents. Whether you a. totally lose it, b. act calm like a zombie, or c. get the screaming child the heck out of there says a lot about your parenting style, but even more about your instincts for survival.
Ever since the cave man gave the first time-out to his screaming toddler, parents have struggled with that ulcer-inducing combination of public humiliation and discipline-as-performance that is the public tantrum.
Here are the worst places for your kid to throw a fit:
1. Grocery Store Line - So many parenting lows and highs occur in the grocery store line, but this one is obvious so let's move on.
2. In-Laws' House - this is one of the most effective places for a child to throw a tantrum, especially if said in-laws are still on the fence about your parenting skills. Many significant glances will be exchanged as you attempt to tame the savage beast.
3. Childless Friend's Home - What would childless friends be good for if not to witness the absolute worst in your children's behavior? Your little angels must sense this, because a quiet peacable day can devolve into a hair-pulling full-throttle scream-fest the second you step into the rarefied world of the childless.
4. Airplane - Say what you will about ill-behaved children but nothing sets off the anxiety alarms in thoughtful parents like their airplane entrapped tantrum-throwing child whose breakdown is matched only by horrors of the evil glances they receive from their seat mates.
5. Auto Mechanic - Another horrid place for a tantrum is somewhere so far beyond the world of little children, they are treated as mythic creatures (unwanted ones) when they do show up, and especially if they squawk or make a scene.
6. Spa - Would you like a screaming banshee with your facial?
7. Designer Shoe Store - As above, no quicker way to get evil glances than for your child to throw a fit in the company of people who are most decidedly child-free for the day or for life.
8. Large Family Social Gathering - This is especially challenging if your kid is the one having the worst time, while your siblings' kids are acting as polite as little angels.
9. At Work - Nothing is as humiliating as your child screaming and carrying on at your workplace, especially if your co-workers mostly know your child as that sweet little cherub smiling in the pictures on your desk.
10. Classical Concert or Church Service - Anywhere people go to find quiet, peace, and meditation. Your child's outburst has the added benefit of reverberating across the high ceilings and raw nerves of the other parishioners.
Any to add?
