I think the most frustrating part about raising kids is all the
effort it takes to lessen their impact on others. Especially when those
others are bitchy (old and/or childless) grown-ups who think
2-year-olds should have already graduated finishing school and
developed a personal moral code of silence, stillness and controlled
anger/exuberance.
I've long since learned to ignore the glares
and forge ahead when my youngest falls apart at the grocery store. I
can honestly say I don't care anymore if her screams make others feel
sad or angry or even uncomfortable. And my husband and I have worked
out a pretty good system of whisking her outside at the first sign of
an impending restaurant meltdown.
Sadly, though, there is no
mitigating the noise of babies, toddlers and living, breathing young
kids in their own home -- a situation that becomes an especially
difficult parenting experience when home is an apartment.
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