DD1 (almost 3) has recently discovered that one of the few things DH and I can't control is her sleep. So she now wakes up at 5am and refuses to nap (which needless to say creates a bear). I ran to target with DD1 and DD2 (5 months) for some needed things for a wedding we have this weekend. The whole trip quickly deteriorated when I told DD1 she needed to wait to visit the toy aisle until we got all the things we need. She melted down to a purple faced, flying snot, screaming bloody murder demon child as I tried to get the things we need. She thrashed around in the cart and every person we passed have me a look of either pity or WTH. We made it out of the store and while I was clicking DD2 in the car (and DD1 continued carrying on on the cart) the cart started to roll away until a complete stranger stopped it and brought her back (still screaming). I felt so humiliated about the whole situation and such a shitty parent 
not really sure what I'm looking fo in this post but just feeling really low at the moment
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Hugs!! Don't be embarrassed! I've been there - it actually just happened to me last week at the grocery store. It sucks, it really does. But most people will be able to look at you and understand that you're trying and have pity.
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Gahhh, I'm sorry! That sounds miserable! But know a ton of other parents have experienced something really similar.
I bet some of those looks you were getting were actually commiseration of having been there before.
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I'm sorry! 3s are hard!
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*big hugs* That's super tough! 3s are very hard. Definitely can relate.
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Been there, done that. You aren't alone. Three sucks. Three sucks so hard. Don't beat yourself up, have a glass of wine instead (like now!).
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That sounds really tough, but you're definitely not alone! I'm sure there are plenty of people who have gone through something similar. My son just recently turned two, and he's already started with the tantrums in public. It's not easy, but you're doing the best you can.
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Hugs! It happens. You'll laugh about it later!
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I have been there! Hugs!!
Two weeks ago I literally had to put my knee and body weight on my screaming toddler to get him to stay in the stroller so I could buckle him in. Add in melted ice cream everywhere, 90 degree weather, and pregnant mama. not fun!
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It happens! My dd has thrown a fit all the way through a few stores. While I try to be considerate and get out quickly I made a point that if mama says we are going, we are going! A couple weeks later that phase was done (for now at least) thank goodness. We have a rule that if the sun is not up dd has to stay in bed. Which is hard with summer starting by better than nothing. We enforce that like crazy then she comes in bed with us/me a little bit in the morning. Not sure how that will work when her brother gets here.
One day lo walked right out the door of a fast food style place when I turned to get a drink. (someone had left the door open which it wasn't when we got there and I didn't notice.) Someone told me what was happening and luckily she stopped at the end of the sidewalk but it was still scary and embarrassing. I thanked that guy twice, and despite my embarrassment I really was thankful.
Sending hugs your way, it happens. There is no such thing as a perfect child or perfect parent!
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Thank you everyone for the words of encouragement. I'm really hoping bedtime hoes easy so the day can just be done!
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We have all been there! I despise the people that stop and stare, not helping!
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If it makes you feel better, my mom claims I did that quite a few times to her as a rather "spirited" child, and I didn't turn out to be a psychopath, promise.
I carried my screaming 18 month old through the airport the other day and wanted to die of embarrassment and frustration a few times. You're doing a great job, promise!
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All you can do is your best lol
@hilsy85: my 2 yr old has been refusing to get in the car seat! It's horrible!! It's a huge battle with tears and screaming and even more embarrassing when it's happening right in front of a window at a restaurant so everyone can watch and hear. : /. -
@autumn865: Don't feel bad. Feel bad for my mother.
My mom took my brother and I shopping at Sears when I was 6 (so he must have been 2) because I needed an outfit for a school assembly. My brother kept hiding inside the clothes racks and my mother was losing her mind because she couldn't keep an eye on him and shop for me at the same time. She kept telling him to stay next to her and he kept disobeying so she finally reached in and dragged him out of a clothing rack. He SCREAMED bloody murder and everyone stared. She scolded him and told him to be quiet while he screamed and screamed and kept trying to throw his body towards one of the racks while she held onto him. He finally broke free and went into such a rage spiral that he ran off and - I SWEAR to GOD - he tore off his clothes, including his diaper, waited until my mother saw him, looked her dead in the eye, squatted in the middle of the aisle, and TOOK A CRAP.
I think my mother just about passed out. It was like, what do I deal with first? The naked child? The poop on the floor? WHAT DO I DO!? (I think she dragged him, ironically, behind a clothes rack and threw his clothes at me and told me to get him dressed while she ran and tried to clean up the mess). You ask my mother what the worst mom moment for her was of our childhood and it was that.
Hugs. You gotta laugh!
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We have all been there! When i give a mom a look, it's a "we've all been there, i totally sympathize" look.
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Sometimes, kids are little jerks
everyone who has kids has totally been there. I've football carried mine out of places before (like a church) kicking and screaming. It happens -
@autumn865: Hugs mama! My daughter isn't even two yet and yesterday we had our first time having to leave a restaurant before we even ordered food because our kid was having a total fit. We just cancelled our drink orders, threw a big tip down, and carried her out football style while everyone stared at us. Not our finest moment!
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I can commiserate! it's not fun and it is embarrassing! I had to carry my screaming child out of the dentist office because she was only allowed 1 toy not 2 from the "toy chest." It took me (and my 9 month pregnant belly at the time) over 20 minutes to get her into her car seat. I called my husband bawling even though he was nowhere near us to come help.
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I am so sorry, I just wanted to show my support! I've been there and I only have one child, so you are 200% better than me as a parent already
For a future shopping trip, maybe you can ask a staff to help you out with the cart? When my LO was younger, I always always ask a staff to help me out with my shopping cart because there is a very slight slope in the parking lot. I need someone to at least hold on to the cart while I unload LO and bags into the car. So try that next time For the people who gave you a WTF glare, they will know and understand what you are going through in a few years haha -
One time when LO was that age she wouldn't nap and I was super strict about her sleep so I held her down. Sounds soooooawful I know but applied just a little pressure so she couldn't get away. She screamed so hard she pooped! I felt so bad that I thought I may have pushed her tummy.
I feared I would be judged and was so ashamed. I just felt horrible!! Probably my lowest point. Hope that helps you know you are not alone. There will be much better days ahead. Maybe you will laugh about it years from now!:) hugs!
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@gingerbebe: omg. Your poor mom!
I think any parent can commiserate with other parents of a misbehaving child! We've all been there at some point!
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Been there! There is nothing you can do. When I get those stares I stare right back - it's target for gosh sakes! I could understand being annoyed if we were in a nice restaurant, but I'm sorry you cannot expect a tranquil environment at a family retail store.
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And I have also had to use full body weight to wrangle a trantruming toddler into a stroller and car seat. It probably looks so bad to passers by that I'm surprised no one has called the cops!
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Hug! Hey parenting win... you got what you needed!
I would have chickened out and left the store!
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Don't be embarrassed! Any parent has been there because sometimes ALL kids act like this. It sucks when you are the parent whose kid is freaking out though!
I bet some of those looks you were getting were actually commiseration of having been there before.
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