When I was younger, child free and lived in London I never noticed children per se - a bit like in movies they just weren’t seen, let alone heard. That is, unless they became the focus of attention.
In London this would be brought painfully to my attention especially if I was late for work. I would find myself caught up in the school run trapped between dark blue Volvos and sleek grey Mercedes as they cruised shark like for the elusive parking spot closest to the school gates slewing from either side of the road as I cycled furiously so as not to be squashed into the kerb.
At other times I would find myslef having to brake and veer wildly as the Mummies opened their car doors oblivious to other road users while they businy hauled out a well scrubbed and matching pair of blonde bobbed juniors to plonk them with a sigh of relief at their corresponding educational establishments.
On other occasions it would be the screaming child at Peter Jones in the glassware department near the spiral staircase right next to the front entrance or horrors in the middle of Sainsbury’s at Nine Elms. How I stared, how I tutted and shook my head or else averted my gaze so as not to embarrass the poor lone mother already heavily weighed down with a paraphernalia of parcels, plastic bags and for good measure another mewling infant on the verge of eruption.
The poor mother would have to cope in ever growing isolation and you’d hear pleadings, sobs, and bribery all in a desperately hushed whisper. Occasionally mother would explode startling children and shoppers alike but it had the desired affect. To be honest I have no idea what is the best policy in those situations. I think in myself satisfied single life - as it was then – I believed that of course I would do it better. Today I was well and truly hoisted by my own petard.
It all started off so well, we found a space to park, we got a trolley, we got into the store and we even started to get shopping but from then on in it was an unmitigated disaster.
The Boy: I’m hungry!
Me: You’ll have to wait darling…
The Boy: I want a banana
Me: I said you’ll have to wait - it won’t be long
The Boy: Look Mummy a pineapple – I want a pineapple!
Me: No love we don’t need one of those
The Boy: Why not?
Me: They’re not ripe yet (and they’re too expensive.)
The Boy: Look Mum! Strawberries!
What strawberries in January? English??!!! Oh from Peru
Me: How lovely Darling but we’re not having those…
The Boy: Why not?
Me: They have come too far love we need to get food that is grown in season
The Boy: But if they’re here they’ve grown haven’t they? So they’re in season…
Can’t fault the logic can you?
It carried on like this wanting things, whining about things because he could not have them until at last frustrated by the fact that for some unknown reason there was no milk I told him to be quiet or there would be no Gingerbread Man treat for him.
OH FOOLISH, FOOLISH WOMAN!!!
The Boy stood there and dissolved into the most heart-rending picture of an angel being told it would never get to heaven. The sobs tore at your very soul right there in the dairy aisle slap bang in the middle of Waitrose on a busy Wednesday afternoon.
I was dumbfounded, out paced and totally out of my depth. I began to wonder if I had been a little too harsh - perhaps I was a little rough when I said the big N.O.
I put my arms around him only for the sobs to get worse and turn to wailing nay keening. The Littlest stared at his brother in awe and catching my eye silently held out his arms for a cuddle pleading for reassurance as the wails got more and more wild and his brother’s shoulders started to quake – it was all getting rather out of hand and the crowd was getting uncomfortably large. I was furious, the little bugger was making a total show I longed to give him a short sharp slap across his behind and everyone was starting to stare and mutter I glared at them all and then back at the source of it all who was now beginning to hiccough uncontrollably. So I started to clap and holler: “Oh well done lovely, marvellous darling – the show’s over now and we’ll collect your Oscar at the checkout!”
I don’t think The Boy quite expected that and I have no idea where it came from but snatching an opportune moment I grabbed his arm and stormed off past the cheese and round the corner into the frozen aisles where it was a little less crowded. Hissing at him I warned him that if he ever tried that on again… but faltered what would I do? Luckily he had been taken by surprise and had gone very quiet. We were given a wide berth, which annoyed me even more.
I marched purposefully around doing the last bits of the shopping trailing a quietly crying child overhearing the occasional snuffle and mutter from him. The Littlest was silent taking it all in clutching his Jelly Cat in one hand and my sleeve with the other.
Dignity just about intact I made it to the cashiers’ desk and out of shop – oh the relief!!!
We were all very quiet on the journey home.
16 comments:
Nothing more embarassing than being made to look like a wicked mummy!!
Well done Tattie - you kept your cool, even though it might not have felt like it at the time. Will definitely keep that one up my sleeve for similar situations (and let's not get smumg - they happen to us ALL).
Loved it ....have been there, read the book and got the tee shirt ...kids eh? who'd have 'em!
Great solution - you had nerve to pull it off.
A friend gave me an idea which I used once or twice (the novelty wore off pretty quickly, but it worked first time or two). Yelling child, whining horribly in supermarket. Mother whips out a pen and paper from handbag and says "hang on a minute, I'm going to write down what you're saying - can you say it again, slowly and quietly so I can get it all down properly? Then I'll be able to think about it when we get home." Child is non-plussed, amazed, and suddenly silent. When you're a mum, surprise is often your only remaining tactic...
What a fantastic blog. Have so utterly been there and felt your pain (well at the time it was my pain but you know what I mean). Inspired response.
Well done xx Your definatly Cooler than Me ! I threw a tantrum just like the advert which ended with us me and two tots sitting on the floor in kwiks giggling uncontrolbly, Amazingly we wernt asked to leave [they wouldnt have dared]..xxx
I feel for you, but if a Mum says it hasn't happened to her at least once, she's lying, or has it yet to come.
Planes and supermarkets are definitely the best places to throw a Tantrum when little!
Oh you brought back many 'happy' memories of shopping with my boys. The little treasures. Thankgoodness they are grown up now.
I can't pass a mum with a wailing child without feeling the well-up of sympathy from one who has 'been in the trenches' with children. Once engaged a tut-tutting woman by asking her to amuse son while I dealt with wailing daughter.
O I loved that one can utterly agree have been there and seen it all.
Never had that experience - as yet. But if, and when, I do I shall know what to try first! Good for you...Mootia x
Soooo been there Tattie! |You have my utmost sympathy and congrats for staying calm xx
Agree, nothing more horrendous than the supermarket tantrum....They say, of course, that you should ignore such behaviour and reward the good but really, 'they' need shooting....
Only cheery thing I can say is that, hey, lucky you having it in Waitrose....when James was at that age, ours always took place in Morrisons.... so there's always someone in a worse place! Sorry, that was facecious. jxxxx
We have all been there, especially those of us with sons and especially in supermarkets!
Worry not, they grow up into lovely men.....
Hi there. I have been doing my shopping on line and having it delivered since my almost 15 year old was 5 weeks. (Diarhea incident in the fruit aisle.) For about three quid delivery fee you have just reminded me of the seriously brilliant sense in my decision. Of course there are a thousand other ways to look like a mean mum, especially with teenagers!
Knock knock Tattie, are you there? Right, well if yes - you've been tagged. Check it out on my post of 28th Jan... Hope you are OK!
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