Christmas Tantrums

[30gAy]

Christmas Tantrums

I was in Destin?s SuperWalMart the other day, and saw a series of the most fabulous tantrums thrown by various children.

The scene repeated itself at Target.

And then again, some wailing child punctuated the shopping at The Destin Commons.

The theme of these various tirades was the same. Each kid screamed that he wanted some toy, and the accompanying parent was resisting. In all the cases, the shopping carts were already filled to the brim with Xmas gifts.

A materialistic, consumer society grooming its newest members from a young age.

When I was a child, I remember living in mortal fear of being caught on the wrong side of the Naughty or Nice list. Santa, I felt, was like an Orwellian Big Brother looking over my shoulder the entire month of December- watching my every move.

Can it be that in a country of Super WalMarts, and Supersized Meals, our children believe it is acceptable to throw Supersized tantrums?

Folks- if you are one of the parents who own such a child, do your kids (and society) a favor this Christmas. Give them a lump of coal.

 

[Cheering472]

I've witnessed this as well. Sadly it's not just at Christmas. I was never able to tolerate that as a parent. If one of mine dared try it, we left the store to deal with the little tyrant, leaving ALL the stuff in the store. Luckily it seldom happened. However I was "mean" mommy. My son stands 6 feet 4 inches and will tell you he's still afraid of me at 23 years of age. Funny I have to look up at him so I just got my bluff in early.

 

[KISH7374]

I've witnessed this as well. Sadly it's not just at Christmas. I was never able to tolerate that as a parent. If one of mine dared try it, we left the store to deal with the little tyrant, leaving ALL the stuff in the store. Luckily it seldom happened. However I was "mean" mommy. My son stands 6 feet 4 inches and will tell you he's still afraid of me at 23 years of age. Funny I have to look up at him so I just got my bluff in early.

I agree completely. When we tooks the kids out, all it took was a look and they behaved because they knew that they would get a spanking when we got to the car or got home. I feel that the discipline for children these days has gone out the window. A little discipline when they are young goes a long way. The kids do not have to be afraid but they need to know that the parent is serious.

 

[Cheering472]

I agree completely. When we tooks the kids out, all it took was a look and they behaved because they knew that they would get a spanking when we got to the car or got home. I feel that the discipline for children these days has gone out the window. A little discipline when they are young goes a long way. The kids do not have to be afraid but they need to know that the parent is serious.

I know, I think he only got 1 spanking in his entire life. It was fear of displeasing me and the dreaded "lip-whipping". I could do some fussing and the car was perfect they can't escape. Ahh the good ol days.

 

[KISH7374]

2 of my sons are now bigger then me but they still know not to mess around with me. I am not sure if it they are afraid or out of respect. Either way that is OK. I just hope their kids turn out as good as they did.

 

[Ocean Lover]

My kids never really threw tantrums except at age 2 and I think most kids go through that. I think it's because parents give in all to often to their every little whim. I don't buy my kids things every time we go to a store and they rarely ask for anything. I know they're 10 and almost 13 now but that's the way it's always been. Could just be that I can't afford to do that but I like to think it's character building. ;-)

 

[Mermaid]

Christmas Tantrums

Can it be that in a country of Super WalMarts, and Supersized Meals, our children believe it is acceptable to throw Supersized tantrums?

Folks- if you are one of the parents who own such a child, do your kids (and society) a favor this Christmas. Give them a lump of coal.

This made me laugh because yesterday my daughter showed me a German condom ad on YouTube (I think RO might have posted the same one a while back). The gist of it was a young father in the grocery with his son and the kid threw an outrageous tantrum. Tag line of the commercial? USE CONDOMS!

About the coal: in the comic strip Baby Blues, the father is explaining to his two kids (who have a full-blown case of the Christmas gimmees) that if they didn't get reasonable, they'd get nothing but coal. The kids asked "What's coal?" The father said "A black rock that burns." The kids said 'WOW! That's so cool! Put it on our list!"

 

[Cil]

That German condom ad is one of the best short films I've ever seen.
I've been following Baby Blues, as well.
Yeah I remember all too well the Walk of Shame: dragging my then-18 month old out of a coffee shop. Oh, the agony. ;-)
I did not do much Christmas shopping with my kids until they were older.
Of course kids have to learn how to behave, and they did. Actually, while they've had their naughty moments, they've never really bugged us all that much for material stuff.
Trying to do any *serious* Christmas shopping with little ones in tow does seem like a recipe for disaster.

 

[Mermaid]

That German condom ad is one of the best short films I've ever seen.
I've been following Baby Blues, as well.
Yeah I remember all too well the Walk of Shame: dragging my then-18 month old out of a coffee shop. Oh, the agony. ;-)
I did not do much Christmas shopping with my kids until they were older.
Of course kids have to learn how to behave, and they did. Actually, while they've had their naughty moments, they've never really bugged us all that much for material stuff.
Trying to do any *serious* Christmas shopping with little ones in tow does seem like a recipe for disaster.

When my kids were very young, the UPS man used to come to our house all the time. A childless neighbor asked me why I did all my shopping by catalogue. She asked me "Don't you ever want to go out to the mall?" All I could think was "Oh lordy what you don't know!" :roll:

 

[potatovixen]

I seem to remember that any time my brother or I even showed signs of throwing a tantrum, Mom and/or Dad would be there showing signs that we were about to get our butts paddled. (My dad has even been known to shoot warning looks at the children of complete strangers. It usually works.) And if that warning wasn't enough, getting spanked in public was embarrassing enough to prevent any repeat offenses.