It was just another ordinary day at a bustling shopping mall. Shoppers were scouring the aisles for discounted shorts, rushing for last-minute groceries, and picking up a few unplanned items that weren’t exactly budget-friendly.
In the midst of it all, a little girl was having a full-blown meltdown in the home improvement section after her snack tumbled through the cart’s grate and onto the floor.
You’d think she had lost something irreplaceable judging by her reaction. She was bargaining for that last piece of Quaker granola bar as if her very life depended on it. But when she realized that snack was gone for good, a volcanic tantrum erupted. The sobs, thrashing, and hiccuping breaths were something to behold. I thought she might actually be sick from the intensity of it all.
Just as the chaos reached its peak, shoppers walked by the aisle, some pausing to offer a sympathetic glance at the beleaguered mother trying to manage the situation. This is just part of mom life, right?
But then, the unexpected happened. The mother slammed her purse down into the cart, raised her voice to a scream, and unleashed a tirade at her child in front of everyone in the store.
“Look! Everyone’s staring at you! Do you want to know why? Because you’re acting like a big baby! Does that make you feel better now, you whiny little thing? Whaaa! Whaaa! Do you need a diaper change?” She kicked the broken granola bar under the shelves and pointed a finger right in the girl’s face. “Stop crying this instant and act like a big girl. Now.”
The child fell silent, though tears continued to roll down her cheeks, her big brown eyes cast downward at her Velcro sneakers. She was humiliated.
“All that over a stinkin’ granola bar!” the mother exclaimed, shoving the cart away in a huff.
For the record, I’m not claiming to be a perfect parent. I lose my temper, make regrettable choices, and often apologize to my kids for my behavior. I’ve been in that mother’s shoes before.
But I’ve also worn those glittery pink Velcro shoes, feeling the weight of shame and humiliation pressing down on me. Because that little girl? That was me. And the woman yelling at her? She was my babysitter.
I’m sharing this story because I know that when it comes to discipline, parents need to find what works for their children. We all have moments where we lose our cool, even in public, regardless of our parenting philosophies.
However, one thing should never be tolerated: berating and mocking children for expressing their emotions.
Parenting is demanding. It’s tough to keep multiple little humans safe and nurtured while also looking after yourself and managing a household. But you know what’s equally challenging? Being a child.
Kids experience a whirlwind of emotions, and they often lack the tools to manage them. It’s our duty as adults to help them learn these skills. We must remain calm and guide them through these emotional storms.
No one else will teach our kids to be emotionally resilient; that responsibility falls squarely on us. Children don’t have the fully developed brains we do, and they are still figuring things out.
When kids are struggling, they deserve validation, not shame. They need empathy and guidance to navigate their feelings.
Am I suggesting it’s okay for a child to wail over a granola bar as if they’ve lost a family member? No. But remember, children lack the mature brains we have, and that’s critical to keep in mind.
So, parents, educators, and caregivers, let’s use our grown-up abilities to help our kids learn how to manage their emotions. Validate their feelings and teach them healthy ways to express sadness, anger, and hurt. Because if your first response to a child’s emotional breakdown is to lash out and shame them, you might just be the one who needs to get your act together. Not the kid.
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In summary, let’s commit to uplifting our children rather than shaming them. They’re learning to navigate their emotions, and it’s our role to guide them through this process with compassion and understanding.
Keyphrase: Mocking children’s emotions
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