Sunday, November 27, 2011

'That' spoilt kid


I’d see that kid in the restaurant howling, rolling on the floor or putting all the sauces into the jug of water, and I’d think – Phew, what a spoilt kid that is! Can’t those parents get him into shape? That is – until Saturday. Which was a ground-breaking (and hide underground), life-changing (and crumbling), face-reddening Saturday.

I faced my first tantrum from Niks. And all over a choco lollipop that his brother got which he wanted.  And to my horror – all of a sudden, I had a 4 1/2 year old mass of pouring tears, sobs at a volume louder than the local loudspeaker’s, and a non-stop series of heart-wrenching “Mama, pleeeeease, pleeeeeease!” Aargh!

In the middle of a public space. These are the looks I got:

  1. What a hard-hearted mom. Can’t she give the kid what he wants?
  2. What a useless mom. Can’t she give him a slap?
  3. Thank God that’s not my kid!
  4. Should I call the child services? Is she kidnapping that kid?

A kind looking lady came up with a wrapped toffee as a peace offering to Niks. He howled louder, while I barked at her to back off.

Finally, like a little cloud, he exhausted his water supplies. The tear ducts ran dry. Red-nosed, he ended his hunger strike, and vehement demands, and went back to eating what he had been given, and in a minute or 2, forgot all about it, and began to laugh uproariously at some joke the other kids cracked!

Sigh! If only all hunger strikes could end so amicably!

Learning : Niks may or may not have learnt his lesson. But I have learnt mine. ‘That’ spoilt kid? People in glass houses should never throw stones. In fact, what are people with 4 ½ year old kids doing in the glass houses in the first place?
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21 comments:

  1. AnonymousNovember 27, 2011 at 8:38 PM

    You make me feel not so bad any more. My daughter, when she was small, used to throw tantrums only when we would go out, but was good as gold at home. Now, she has grown out of it. But I was always thinking Where I am going wrong? I will sign this annonymous otherwise my daughter will throw another teenager tantrum now. HaHa.

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  2. ShaliniNovember 27, 2011 at 11:53 PM

    Where have i heard that line before?? Just this morning...last evening, the morning before that, day before, I can go on....
    Anyone who has had an embarrassing moment (read moments!) automatically get added to my friendlist...:-). Folks with well mannered kids, I have nothing to say to you! My little brat is trying to come up with innovative ways of trying to make me look like this mom who knows little(nothing) about disciplining or executing parental control when he gets out of control....he is lucky to have been bestowed with cuteness that helps him come out unspanked most of the times! Jane, what you went through is something that I go through with my little one, Arjun almost every day...:-). But we still love 'em, don't we?? Ah, the trials of being a parent, no, a mom.

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  3. JandyNovember 28, 2011 at 3:40 AM

    shalini, anonymous - soul sisters! haha. yes, the best thing you can wish those who stare hard at you - is that they'll have kids as free-spirited as your own! ;) shalini - loved your friendlist guide. :)

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  4. AnonymousNovember 28, 2011 at 3:49 AM

    Don't generalize. Kids are very smart and are good at manipulating their parents. And you are just giving in. It takes a lot of courage to stand up to them, and say No. You are doing more harm than good by spoiling your spoilt child even more.

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  5. Puja UpadhyayNovember 28, 2011 at 4:45 AM

    Another scary post! You specialise in this particular kind of 'Dark Humour' :O When people ask newlyweds with battling eyelids when is the good news coming, they should be recommended to read your blog :D :D

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  6. JandyNovember 28, 2011 at 4:45 AM

    hahahaha! puja - that was reallllly funny!

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  7. JandyNovember 28, 2011 at 4:46 AM

    so - puja - is the good news coming?

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  8. KiranNovember 28, 2011 at 4:55 AM

    This is for Anonymous # 2. It takes courage also to sign your name on a comment on a blog.

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  9. deepaNovember 28, 2011 at 6:22 AM

    Can quite imagine you looking most mortified.
    An essential skill that I have cultivated over the years - is a bubble around myself till the tantrum wears out .

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  10. JandyNovember 28, 2011 at 7:25 AM

    thanks, deepa, for the tip - have a feeling my bubble will need to last the next few years - till he turns teenager!

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  11. Sonal SinghNovember 28, 2011 at 11:52 PM

    I feel avenged! A few years back, when my niece was barely 4, she saw me meeting a male friend. All i gave him was a platonic hug. Back home, she flowed like this: Mausi ne apne dost ko gale lagaya aur gaal pe dher saara pyaari kiya!
    and kids are supposed to be innocent!

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  12. JandyNovember 29, 2011 at 2:50 AM

    @sonal - haha. kids should have a volume control thingie on them.

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  13. seema singhNovember 30, 2011 at 10:10 PM

    Awww Jane been there done that...& believe me once you become a mom make tantrums a part of your life!!They never go only the intensity changes!!I have a 20 yr old & an 18 yr old..ask me!!!!!

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  14. JandyNovember 30, 2011 at 11:00 PM

    haha seema, i know that was meant to make me feel better, but it's actually giving me the shivers!

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  15. keyamomDecember 1, 2011 at 3:31 AM

    Ho ho ho ho - you are lucky that Niks waltzed through his terrible twos! We keep telling K that she ever goes down on the floor to throw a tantrum - we'll just exit the restaurant leaving her there! But there have been a few occasions where we have been left red faced hoping that the ground opens up beneath you. The "bubble" really works - no more tantrums! Another thing I've noticed is when we travel - each time we enter the flight I can see 'The Look' on my fellow passengers face (oh no, dont want this seat - there's a kid next to me!) And all I can think is "Hope you have a kid soon & have to take flight!" In more cases than not - the adult ends up throwing more tantrums than the kid!

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  16. vinooDecember 9, 2011 at 3:18 AM

    Where is/was the Suroop?

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  17. JandyDecember 9, 2011 at 3:40 AM

    @vinoo - @office

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  18. SidDecember 13, 2011 at 9:18 AM

    Write more. I feel like I've just bitten into the bar - and it's over already. Looking forward (though not with much hope ) to longer posts, Jandy.

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  19. RenataDecember 13, 2011 at 5:10 PM

    So, so glad you shared. I think we share the same type of humour :-)

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  20. JandyDecember 13, 2011 at 8:08 PM

    Renata - honoured!

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  21. smsDecember 16, 2011 at 2:52 PM

    hee, hee-- little kids, small but loud tantrums; big kids BIG tantrums!
    I proudly wear the badge "no fun lady" that my munchkin so lovingly bestowed on me.
    Just recently, my 11 year old threw a major fit because he did not get a WII game but his 5 year old cousin got one! He stood at the store entrance for more than a hour giving vent to his feelings. I did get those 'looks' from the passers by. "Pick your battles" flashed through my mind. I had picked mine at that moment.
    3 hours later, my kiddo apologized and I even got a HUG!! Go figure :)

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