Lately I’ve felt like I’ve been failing.

My house is in a perpetual state of “work in progress”.
My desk looks like my craft stash threw up all over it.
I can’t keep up with the laundry.
I’m not getting enough sleep.

But that is all PEANUTS compared to this.

Everywhere we go and everything we do causes a nuclear meltdown of epic proportions.

Target…check
Market…check
JoAnn…check
Costco…check
Bed, Bath & Beyond…check
CPK…check
Park…check
Friend’s House…check

I can feel it coming on. In the pit of my stomach I feel the wind up. The look on his face. The stiffening of his body. And then, at a pitch that should only be reserved for dog whistles, it comes. By the sound of his screams you would think I was torturing the poor child.

I got the NASTIEST looks in the market today. Why, cause LJ screamed like I’ve never heard, all because he didn’t want to be in the cart. There was a fire truck parked outside and I swore the firemen were going to come and take him.

I’ve tried calmly telling him it’s not ok to yell.
I’ve tried distracting him with books, toys, snack, iPod movies.
I’ve even put his little butt in the corner in the middle of Target, BB&B, and JoAnn. He gets put in the corner when he acts like that at home, so why should he get away with it when we are out?

Nothing works. He still screams. He still throws a huge fit. And I still have half the store just staring at me.

I feel like I’m failing here.

I’ve tried every piece of advice from every child development book I can think of. I went to school for this, so why isn’t it working for me?

BSB works insane hours, bless his heart. It’s far from uncommon for LJ to see him at all in a day. So most of this is left up to me…which obviously isn’t working. I’m just at a loss.

Sorry kiddo, the market, post office, Costco, etc. still need to happen, whether you like it or not!