Frith O’Steen

Yesterday, my son threw a tantrum. We’re talking an armageddon-level fit that included screaming and clinging and wrestling with his mommy. Decker does not generally throw tantrums, and has never thrown one of this level and magnitude and length - at least, not in public. Trying the best I could to remove him from the public realm, and to help him calm down (he was so over the top that you could tell he was freaking himself out by how out of control he was), I took away from where people were, to the parking lot. I held him close and was rocking and trying to soothe him and essentially flying by the seat of my pants with this very new and unusual (for Decker) behavior.

In the midst of this, a man on a bike appears out of nowhere and starts telling my mom and sister (who were with me) that Decker is very distressing and that this was unaccepatable. Big mistake! I took Decker even further away in the parking lot (so it would echo less), and mom disappears with the stroller. She comes back about 10 minutes later and I find out that she trailed the guy down, cornered him, and gave him a piece of her mind! Don’t mess with the mama of the mama! You will regret it!

So…what is my public service announcement? If you see a woman with a screaming toddler, who is CLEARLY trying to do everything she possibly can to deal with the situation, and CLEARLY has gone as far away from the general public as she can, and you have absolutely no connection with this woman or child WHATSOEVER (ie: you are not a husband/father, grandparent, auntie/uncle): SHUT THE HECK UP AND KEEP YOUR OPINIONS TO YOURSELF. If you find yourself annoyed or feeling judgmental of this woman, stop and reflect for a second. Perhaps instead of voiccing your irritation and exacerbating the situation with unsolicited and unhelpful criticism, try to feel a little sympathy and go along your way and let them be. Two year olds are expected to lack control over their emotions and actions - it’s inexcusable in an adult.

This also goes for making comments about children’s apparel, names, speech and mobility development, and toy preference.

Thank you for your time. Remember - if you choose not to heed the above advice, I’ll send my mom after you! The little ones are mean!