Thanks for your response...it's always so painful when others 'judge' us on the outside and don't even bother to get to know us or show empathy or compassion...I went through the 'looks' and 'comments' for years when I was a single mom...as a result...I now show compassion toward mom's and dad's who are at their last minute when their kids act up in stores...and I smile at them in a way that let's them know...I've been there...I can see an immediate 'relief' in their eyes...just knowing someone else understands....I am grateful I can give that because raising children is very hard and exhausting at times...and none of us need 'condemnation' from others...
One of the things I did with my kids when they threw tantrums in public, is I told my child as a result of their behavior, we were leaving...even in the middle of grocery shopping once ( I asked the clerks to hold my cart till I returned)...and told my child they would be unable to go to the store again for awhile until they were willing to behave 'calmly' in public...of course my kids cried and screamed and begged all the way home...and when I got the sitter and left back to the store without them...they got the message...and I didn't have to be 'mad' at all...just the 'actions' got the message through loud and clear...of course there were other times when I lost my temper...none of us are perfect...but my heart goes out to you...the early years with kids are hard sometimes...
Thanks again for undertanding my problem with anger.
