Handling Toddler Tantrums

You’re grocery shopping and your toddler wants cookies, NOW! What to do when you’re faced with the dreaded public tantrum

All is going well on your grocery shopping outing, until your toddler snags a bag of cookies from a shelf, feverishly tries to rip it open, and starts screeching “Want it! Have it! Cookie!”

You gently trying to pry the bag out of his fingers before cookies fly everywhere. His piercing screech can be heard all the way to the parking lot. Then comes a full-blown head-banging meltdown. Strangers are staring at you and you’re sure you can hear them whispering, “what is she doing to that poor child?”

What’s a parent to do?

First, on behalf of moms everywhere, we beg you to never, ever give in. It’s so tempting to do whatever it takes to keep the peace, but it will make your next shopping trip even worse. If your child was already in a cranky mood to start with, the peace probably wouldn’t have lasted that long anyway.

Make sure he’s safe: the cart’s seat belt is buckled and your child isn’t about to knock anything over.

Try distraction: keys, a snack from your purse, a trip to the lobster tank.

Don’t worry about staring strangers. Chances are some of them are parents, too, and most glances are totally sympathetic. If they aren’t, you’ll probably never see those judgmental people again, anyway.  Relax about grocery store clerks, either: They’ve seen it all.

If the cookie storm shows no signs of blowing over, park your cart and head for a bench or the car. When all else fails: There’s no shame in going home and trying again another day.