Felt embarrassed enough to buy something!!

[busymama77]

We were at Gymboree on Saturday doing a little shopping. DS#1 was in a great but silly mood pretty much all day. He likes the store so that he can watch the shows while I shop. I've got DS#2 in a carrier fast asleep. About 10mins goes by and DS#1 starts running around the store and pretending to play tag with me. I'm unable to stop him, calm him down without waking the baby, asked him repeatedly to take a breather, watch the shows like the other little kids are doing - he wouldn't have anything to do with it. I was getting quite frustrated, almost to the point of screaming, went to put back the things that I had picked out, but felt so embarrassed and obligated to buy something, so I did.

I really, really hate that I did because I felt like DS#1 didn't deserve the new clothes, but even one of the store associates had said something about him running around but in a nice, sort of "you're gonna wear yourself out - at least he'll nap - good for you, mom" type of thing, so I felt like I had to. I didn't want to be that 'mom' that has the crazy kid... I dunno. It just didn't sit well with me.

Shopping with him lately has almost become impossible unless it's for a short period of time - run in and run out. What do you suggest I do for future shopping trips?

[LuckyMommaToo]

I pretty much don't bring my kids shopping. I buy almost everything online. They do come to Target and the grocery store, but anything that involves browsing is miserable for them and me.
-e

[Alyantavid]

I don't take my kids shopping by myself unless I absolutely have to. And mine are 8 and 4. One or the other is fine, but both is just way too hard on all of us. We stopped at the grocery store the other day and were in there 5 minutes and had at least 2 incidents with ds2.

[Drummer's Wife]

I much prefer to shop (especially at Gymboree ) by myself b/c I want to focus on what I'm looking for, and not worry about the kids. That said, with four kids, I sometimes do have to bring them - and I just expect that depending on the day, their mood, their energy level, if they are hungry/bored/etc., that they might not be perfect angels. It does stree me out at times, and afterwards I vow to shop alone in the future. My older two kids generally do really well in stores, but my younger two can be cranky at times.

[ollyoxenfree]

I'd think that in a shop like Gymboree, the staff are used to energetic kids. And silly kids. And cranky kids. And loud kids. And, of course, polite, nicely behaved kids. They've seen it all.

If you've tried to correct his behaviour but realized that shopping isn't a good idea right then and it's time to go, I don't think you should feel compelled to buy anything. A smile and thanks to anyone who was assisting you and a quick departure are probably the best way to handle it.

[zinemama]

I never take my kids shopping, either. I can gauge what's going to fit them pretty accurately, or I buy online. It's simply not worth it to deal with a scene like that. And it's not fair to expect kids to be docile in a clothing store for as long as it takes me to make up my mind. Not my kids, anyway.

[mom2grrls]

I suggest you keep your shopping trips short and sweet or leave him with someone for a while until it becomes easier for him to handle longer trips.

[Rafman'sMama]

The only advice I have is not too worry so much about what other people think of your parenting. Just you keep your cool, shrug it off, maybe even mention something about coming back when the little aren't so hyper. You might get a few people thinking you are "that" kind of parent, but you can't really help that anyways. Besides, everyone has different perceptions of what "good" parenting is. I find that I can react to circumstances a lot better when I am not so worried about how I appear.

Good Luck with future trips!

[Passport Kids]

My son used to get like this at that age. Our big chase was at Victorias Secret! LOL! Part of his issue seemed to be overstimulation, all the lights, stuff, colors, noise, people, were all too much at once for his senses. He was already energetic enough, so that just sent him over the edge. So I would try to leave him home w/Daddy when I needed to shop. Good luck! They do get a little easier!

[hakeber]

Originally Posted by ollyoxenfree

I'd think that in a shop like Gymboree, the staff are used to energetic kids. And silly kids. And cranky kids. And loud kids. And, of course, polite, nicely behaved kids. They've seen it all.

If you've tried to correct his behaviour but realized that shopping isn't a good idea right then and it's time to go, I don't think you should feel compelled to buy anything. A smile and thanks to anyone who was assisting you and a quick departure are probably the best way to handle it.

yes, to all of that. You'd have a lot of nerve calling your store gymboree and expecting kids to just sit still while mama shops.

Sooo, also don't feel bad about getting him new clothes. It's not really a gift for him, is it? I have yet to meet a little boy hat age that loves getting clothes for a prsent,right? Was it cute at least?

[D_McG]

We shop in the morning. I typically have some fun afternoon activity planned for my son (he's 4) and if he misbehaves he's reminded of the activity and how if I have to keep correcting him we won't have time/won't be in the mood for it. It mostly works and the odd time it does not, he loses the activity.

[AndrewsMother]

I suggest that you leave him home! My son is the same age, and I dread any kind of shopping with him in tow.

[NiteNicole]

My daughter is the same age and shopping is excruciatingly boring for her. She doesn't run around, but she chatters and complains incessantly. I can't think straight and I'll come out with 1/3 of what I went in for and some things I don't remember even picking up. I either shop for her online or by myself. It's just not worth it for us both to go.

My advice is just like everyone else above me - go without him, shop online.

I wouldn't worry what the employees think about you because I PROMISE one kid playing tag is not the worst they've seen on ANY given day (please, I've worked in children's clothing retail and you would not believe what people let their kids get up to, what kids get up to without the parents knowing, and what some adults will do!) and if you seem to at least be making an effort, pretty much anything will be forgiven or over looked. It's the kid running around sweeping piles of folded tees onto the ground that will make a retail staff quack because it takes HOURS to get that stuff fixed.

[tanyam926]

I much prefer shopping by myself but I often have to take my 3 boys w/me bc I don't have anyone to leave them with (dh gets one day off/wk which is when we do something fun, and all clothes shopping is done in the large town a 1/2 hr away from us).

When shopping at the mall (which is rare bc I hate the mall myself) I make sure my kids are really well fed. We stop and eat lunch first or get something to eat right before we go into a store.

At other places I like to shop (Old Navy, Ross, etc) my older boys LOVE to go treasure hunting. This is where the look around for junk like broken hangers, lost coins, mostly trash, but they love finding it. I will let them give all the hangers to the employees (they love that bc they feel important) and keep the coins, ripped off tags, and other treasure that we can discard later.

Yes, sometimes we come away w/junk but my boys don't keep a lot of stuff in their rooms so it's managable and we clean up every night before bed so we can toss stuff. Letting them collect stuff really gives me the time I need to look around though so it's worth it.

[meemee]

i never had the option of leaving my dd at home so she went with me everywhere.

before i went to take her on my errand i made sure we did something for her first. something physical. so she can get the energy out of her system. a walk or the park. she is a v. tactile child so i would give her something for her hands to keep her occupied.

i wonder if your son wasnt overwhelmed by everything in there.

and yes i think it was a nice touch that you bought something. whenever dd was a pain, or if we left more of a mess at a restaurant, i always bought something or paid a higher tip.