by Lauren McCann
Child Life Manager

It happened.  I was praying it would never happen, but it did.  My head told me it couldn’t be avoided, but my heart prayed I could get by without it happening for just a little while longer.  “Why me,” I asked myself.  But I know I’m not special…it happens to everyone.  My toddler is starting to assert her independence, which means this has been a ticking time bomb….  So what happened? 

A full-out, monster size, obnoxious temper tantrum.  In public.  And at Target nonetheless!! 

Let me first say that I support Walmart and Target equally, so I am not a biased shopper, but that day, at the moment of meltdown, I swear the first words out of my mouth were “Please don’t do this here!!  Not here!  Not at Target!!”  Breakdowns are common place at Walmart…it’s part of the shopping experience.  Not at Target though.  I hardly ever hear screaming and carrying on in those pretty red aisles.  Why did it have to be at Target?!? 

Needless to say, I was mortified.  Initially I was just surprised she was melting down for what seemed like no reason.  She had just had a nap and a snack, so it was perfect shopping time.  Why, oh why, was she doing this to me??  Oh, I know why, it was to get what she wanted.  Although, the books say to hold strong, ignore the tantrum, and not give in, what do you think I did??  I immediately gave in to what she wanted to quiet her down and then started bribing her to keep her quiet!  Mom of the Year, right?!? 

I can ignore a tantrum all day long at the house, but not at Target.  At Target, the name of the game is squash the noise as fast as possible so you do not offset the peace of those beautiful color-coded aisles!  I know, I know….I should be strong and start teaching my child that those behaviors are not acceptable, but in those moments, I am not above a bribe.  When the battle is on and I am becoming mortified, it just needs to end….and if a Buzz Lightyear toy will do it, than so be it!