Parents of two or more...how on earth do you do it? tara: I had J's three-year-old (H), and her five-year-old friend (R), with me in a small Italian market for three minutes and thought my head was going to explode.
H: Ooh, pineapple. Can we get a pineapple?
Me: You know what happened the last time we got a pineapple? We forgot to cut it up and it got all brown and oozy in the refrigerator. I'm not getting a pineapple.
R: Can I get a pineapple?
Me: What did I just say?
R: You told H she couldn't get a pineapple. You didn't say anything about me getting a pineapple. (Pulls pineapple off the shelf, three other pineapples come tumbling down, thankfully not hitting anyone.)
Store clerk (coming over to reshelve pineapples): What cute kids. Are they brother and sister?
R: HEY, I'M A GIRL! (She was wearing a Brewers shirt and ball cap and she has short hair.)
H: HEY, I'M A GIRL!
R: STOP REPEATING ME!
H: STOP REPEATING ME!
R: TARA!
H: TARA! (loses interest...pause...) R!!! COME QUICK! (Sprints across store toward customer with a seeing-eye dog)
Me: H! GET BACK HERE THIS INSTANT!
H: BUT THERE'S A DOGGIE IN THE STORE!
R & H: THERE'S A DOGGIE IN THE STORE! THERE'S A DOGGIE IN THE STORE! CAN WE GET A PINEAPPLE? CAN WE GET A COOKIE? TARA, SHE HIT ME! WELL, SHE HIT ME FIRST! TARA!
:crazy:
I called my mom last night and thanked her for a job well done -- my sister and I are this same age difference apart and I'm sure we caused a few pineapple avalanches in our time.
Re: Parents of two or more...how on earth do you do it? Plucky: I have two that are 8 years apart....my #1 rule is that they are NOT allowed in the grocery store. I do my shopping when they're visiting dad or Nana. LOL
Re: Parents of two or more...how on earth do you do it? tara: Heh...this was an emergency run. I've taken the three-year-old by herself, no problem. (When she's by herself: "Can we get popsicles/lollipops/cake?" "No. How about we have a banana when we get home?" "OK.") But we went from having nobody over for dinner and planning on eating leftovers to needing to feed 9 people in the span of about a half an hour.
[quote author=Plucky link=topic=28103.msg273128#msg273128 date=1145885414">
I have two that are 8 years apart....my #1 rule is that they are NOT allowed in the grocery store. I do my shopping when they're visiting dad or Nana. LOL
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Re: Parents of two or more...how on earth do you do it? sheydp: I take them shopping, and I have 3 - 9, 7, and 3. (Also all girls.)
Couple of tips. Don't worry about what other people think. Other people don't watch misbehaving kids, they watch how the adult with the child is handling it. As long as you keep your cool, people will think only good things. After all, we ALL know kids will be kids, and WILL misbehave.
Also, before you go out in public, make and discuss rules. For example... In a grocery store - you MUST touch the cart at all times. If you want to look at something, ask, and the whole cart will move or you will get permission to let go. Make a game of it even. See who can remember this rule the most, and if it is followed through the whole store, they get to pick a treat at the check out isle - but ONLY if BOTH remember it the whole time (this will keep them reminding each other.) Make rules about how many selections they get to make. For example - you each get to pick a cereal, and each get to pick one snack. You also get to ask for one extra thing. So... they want ice cream and an ice cream cone box, that is the snack and the extra thing. They don't get anything else, and if they keep asking, they lose the extra treat.
My most important advice. Take a deep breath, and smile. Find ways to laugh at things. Find ways to make it fun. The more energy you put into them, the less you need. As backwards as that sounds, it is true. Make a game in advance (pain in the butt, some work) but it will save you time and frustration in the end. Treasure hunts always work. Give them a list of things they are likely to see, have them watch for them. Keeps their eyes, minds and mouths busy and out of trouble...
You are doing fine... PM me if you need to vent...
Shey
Re: Parents of two or more...how on earth do you do it? tara: Thanks...unfortunately, this market only had handbaskets, so the "cart rule" (which we do enforce with H) couldn't work. Then again -- I don't anticipate making too many major trips alone with these two. I do like your idea for a treat if both of them behave.
H is my "tomato paste helper" sometimes -- I let her hold the tomato paste can, once (she wanted to be the "bread helper," but squished bread would of course have resulted), and now every time we're in a grocery store -- "do we need tomato paste?" She's gotten some smiles from the store clerks for that.
[quote author=sheyd link=topic=28103.msg273135#msg273135 date=1145886246">
I take them shopping, and I have 3 - 9, 7, and 3. (Also all girls.)
Couple of tips. Don't worry about what other people think. Other people don't watch misbehaving kids, they watch how the adult with the child is handling it. As long as you keep your cool, people will think only good things. After all, we ALL know kids will be kids, and WILL misbehave.
Also, before you go out in public, make and discuss rules. For example... In a grocery store - you MUST touch the cart at all times. If you want to look at something, ask, and the whole cart will move or you will get permission to let go. Make a game of it even. See who can remember this rule the most, and if it is followed through the whole store, they get to pick a treat at the check out isle - but ONLY if BOTH remember it the whole time (this will keep them reminding each other.) Make rules about how many selections they get to make. For example - you each get to pick a cereal, and each get to pick one snack. You also get to ask for one extra thing. So... they want ice cream and an ice cream cone box, that is the snack and the extra thing. They don't get anything else, and if they keep asking, they lose the extra treat.
My most important advice. Take a deep breath, and smile. Find ways to laugh at things. Find ways to make it fun. The more energy you put into them, the less you need. As backwards as that sounds, it is true. Make a game in advance (pain in the butt, some work) but it will save you time and frustration in the end. Treasure hunts always work. Give them a list of things they are likely to see, have them watch for them. Keeps their eyes, minds and mouths busy and out of trouble...
You are doing fine... PM me if you need to vent...
Shey
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