Oh no - I suffer no illusions, I know kids will melt down at the most inopportune moment. The difference is when i was growing up, we were hauled off immediately. Nowadays many parents just let it go and continue with what mom and dad need to do.
I was in a store with an INFANT crying - that awful blood curdling screaming. Not only did mom continue to shop, but went to another store, with child screaming the whole time. There is NO excuse for that other than bad parenting.
I will say I will NOT change my mind about the use of Benedryl for plane rides, even long car rides. It makes the trip more pleasant for everyone involved.
The problem is Benedryl, especially in young children, oftentimes has the OPPOSITE effect than what was intended. Some kids react to it like a shot of caffine...
Hey there mr. amateur pharmacist, what're you going to do if the Benadryl causes hyperactivity? Which it does in a not insignificant percentage of kids. Heck, you could just calculate the right dose of ambien. Maybe a dose of adult cough medicine, or a few teaspoons of vodka in the juice.
Why not just plan on handling all your feared lack of parenting skills with a medicine cabinet? No-doz when he's tired. Valium when he's upset. And always of course just pump some kind of sedative when you feel like checking out. If you're planning on using the wrong medicine at the wrong time, for the wrong reason, why not just let it all hang out?
Or just maybe you might realize how foolish and heartless you sound, and pipe down.
You could use a condom next time too.
Benadryl can have to opposite effect on some children, Dr. Spock. It makes the HYPER.