Last night at Walmart, my son didn’t want to leave the toy asile. we tried carrying him, but he was kicking and screaming. Finally my wife had me take my daughter and pay for our purchases. When I met her at the car, she showed me her arm. He had bitten her hard enough to leave a mark and draw a little blood. She sat him in the back of the van and smacked him hard. We’re afraid to do anything like that in public because we don’t want to go to jail.
I mean... I love my kids. And I don’t treat them like snowflakes. He wants to play video games, but it’s time to get food? He gets yanked off the computer. he’ll scream “That’s not fair!” and our reply is “Life isn’t fair, kid.”
The other day we were grocery shopping, he was acting like a little jerk. Kicking, screaming, yelling “Leave me alone!” I said “That’s it. we’re going to take what we have and leave.” I came back later. But I wasn’t going to tolerate that behavior. I don’t even want to go out in public with him any more. I’ll take care of the shopping. But until he learns how to behave in public, he’ll never see the inside of a resturant or a grocery store.
I don’t know how old your son is — my boys are 4 — but when they act up like that (occasionally, luckily not often!), the stuff THEY want, such as a little toy, or special bagels or whatever they asked for, will get left behind. No treats for naughty kids, and they know it. One day we went to Burger King (special treat for my kids) and one of them would not behave. So we took the food and went home and ate it there, instead of eating at the restaurant, which was what they both wanted. My “special snowflake” has NOT repeated the behavior that made me take him straight home. :) They hate losing special treats and privileges.
(And yes, I have “the look,” and while I only use the flat of my hand on a little behind, and usually only one time, I have “the spank” too! I have had many people comment on how well-behaved my kids are in public.) (Though of course there are moments like the one in Burger King! LOL!)