s/o screaming kids

Heffalump

I am now THAT MOM, and you all are free to disagree with my parenting, but I was telling DH last night that I could never understand why mothers would stand there six inches from a screaming kid as if they couldn't hear them.  Now I know.

The Woozle and I had to stop at the grocery store yesterday afternoon.  She has taught herself a new trick.  If Mom is busy talking to the guy at the seafood counter or looking for quinoa, just let out a bloodcurdling screech.  Instant attention.

She wasn't crying, it wasn't an unhappy screech, she was just appallingly loud.  The first few times, I shushed her and tried modeling a quiet voice For When We Are Shopping.  She liked that, but the minute I turned back to looking for green onions that weren't shriveled at the ends, she started up again.  She was clearly doing it to get my attention.  So I stopped giving it to her.

I ignored the happy screaming.  She tried getting louder, and louder still, and my resolve seriously wavered.  But my undergrad degree was in animal behavior, and I knew if I kept rewarding the behavior I didn't want, she would keep doing it.  So when she screamed, I didn't look, and went on about my business.  And when she reverted back to her normal volume, I gave her the attention she wanted.

By the time we got to the cereal aisle, she was tired of screaming and was busy playing with my sunglasses and trying to steal the shopping list.  

So yeah, it never made sense to me, but annoying as it is, sometimes there is a reason it seems like that mom can't hear her own kid when someone three aisles over can. 

baconsmom

That's different than a kid having a full-blown tantrum, though. This makes perfect sense to me, and she stopped before very long. 

Concentrated, tantrum screaming? Absolutely effing not. And yes, I can tell the difference between that and hungry crying or tired crying, both of which get way more leeway with me, too. 

MinM

You did the right thing.

So what, some people had to hear her scream for half a trip to the store? Better than rewarding the behavior and having this happen every time you go to the store.

loveshine1

This is the point where it gets tricky for me.

I hate hearing other people's children scream in stores. However, I also don't want to let my children know that screaming like a banshee in a store will get me to instantly leave the store.

I think every situation needs to be taken on a case by case basis.

**O-Face**

There is a difference between screeching for a second and full on flopping-on-the-floor screaming.

And also, my neighbor picks up her dog when she barks.  Um...you're doing it wrong.  If your dog does something bad, ignoreignoreignore. 

hmonkey

[QUOTE]This is the point where it gets tricky for me. I hate hearing other people's children scream in stores. However, I also don't want to let my children know that screaming like a banshee in a store will get me to instantly leave the store. I think every situation needs to be taken on a case by case basis.
Posted by loveshine1[/QUOTE]

WHO IS THIS?

and what happened to the loveshine that was all "i hate you, i hate your screaming kid, and you need to leave the store and let me shop in childfree peace"?

GBCK

I vote squirt bottle :-P

katorigasuki

i wouldn't disagree with your tactics here at all.  i've actually had mr kat take miles out to the car when he was crying/having a tantrum in the grocery store.  but one of those shrieks for attention is very different from a full blown tantrum.

6fsn

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_wedding-woes_screaming-kids?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:47Discussion:08f0e7b0-347d-46a5-bd44-22d17bd23d43Post:f51c676a-93f7-459a-af5b-eeb3fa56ee63">s/o screaming kids</a>:
[QUOTE]But my undergrad degree was in animal behavior, and I knew if I kept rewarding the behavior I didn't want, she would keep doing it.  So when she screamed, I didn't look, and went on about my business.  And when she reverted back to her normal volume, I gave her the attention she wanted. Posted by Heffalump[/QUOTE]

Awesome.  I've decided that no matter what you do as a parent you will be judged.  I don't care anymore.