My 2 1/2 year old son and my 6 month old baby accompanied me to a clothing store one afternoon.  I will never forget what happened.  My toddler decided to hide in between the clothing on a round rack. I had looked away for just a second when the baby started crying.  When I looked back, I could not see my toddler. I went into panic mode.  Then I noticed the skirts and dresses were waving on the racks like the wind was blowing.  That was the give-away. I marched over to the clothing rack and tried to grab his little chubby arm. Of course, he avoided me like the plague.  Finally, after minutes which seemed like hours, I was able to grab him and not drop the baby. He, however, reacted just like a two year old by falling on the floor, kicking and screaming.

Talking to toddlers while they are in the middle of a tantrum just doesn’t work. Two little old women (probably the age I am now) were looking at me and whispering. I could only imagine what they were thinking.  After I grabbed him up, I swatted him on his diaper (one of those this will hurt me more than it will hurt you) swats.  The women walked over to me and I thought I was in for it. However, they were so sweet and told me they were proud of me for disciplining him right there in the store.  Parenting is one of the most important jobs in the world with the least education available.