A shopping experience

As I walked into the department store, the first thing I heard were the screams.  No, no one was getting assaulted or kidnapped or robbed.  They were the screams of a little boy who was not happy with his mother.  He looked like he was about four and he was kicking and fighting while his mother was dragging him to the shopping cart.  She didn't look too happy either.  (That was an understatement!)   Looking a little closer (while trying not to appear obvious), I noticed that the little darling had two other brothers...one about six and another about eight.  They were having the time of their lives, running, hiding under clothes racks, punching each other and pushing the clothes racks down the aisles.  All the time the mom was alternating between searching the clothes racks and yelling at her kids.

I am not going to judge this mother.  She was obviously having a hard time and I felt sorry for her.  But I couldn't help wondering why she was bringing her boys with her.  Did she have to go clothes shopping at 5 pm?  Maybe she did.  Were they always this way?  I hope not.  Was there no other time she could go shopping without all three of them?  Who knows.

Most kids hate going shopping, especially to a boring (to them) department store.  Most kids are cranky and hungry around 5 pm.  To take three rambunctious young boys shopping is a disaster waiting to happen.  I know that sometimes it can't be avoided but if it's just for recreational shopping, I think finding a better time might result in a happier experience.  I'd also try to work one-on-one with the oldest one to teach him how to help rather than encourage his younger brothers.  Even if you're the mom, three against one is poor odds.

I wish this mom and all those going through similar circumstances the best of success.  No one ever said parenting was easy.  But it doesn't have to be hell either.