what would you do?
Yesterday for Sunday School, we tried Moose out in his age-appropriate room (he had been in with the 2-year-olds still). It seemed to go well; his teacher said he was good and listened to her when they needed to sit down and color or listen to the lesson. When I got there, he was playing with "Thomas" (actually Gordon but whatever, they're both blue). Happy as can be...then another boy took the train - screaming. I go over and the other teacher gives Moose back the train...happy. I tell him we're going to go sit in church - screaming. I told him he could stay and play then. I leave - screaming. I go back and we repeat (go to church - scream, me leave - scream). Once more and then Big A went in and just got him. Huge meltdown. They walk around outside for 10 minutes while Squirt and I go in to worship. Our big duo comes back in and Squirt gets squirmy (not unusual). Big A takes him out and Moose sits beside me. Then he decides he wants his cars...I forgot them at home - screaming. I take him to the bathroom and spank him (and he cries super loud the whole way out and in the bathroom). I sit on the floor and just say, "buddy I don't know what to do with you. You can't scream like that." I am just lost at what to do. I've tried being super duper patient. I've tried spanking. I've tried yelling. I've tried distraction. None of it works. He seemed better so we went to go back into church; he yelled for his milk. So I went in to get our stuff and we all sat out in the foyer. Seeing as we weren't going to get anything out of the service, we just left. In the middle.
What would you do? Do you leave your kids in the nursery/Sunday School during church? We would like to have our kids in there with us so we don't have to teach them at a later time to sit still during church. But lately we've definitely contemplated keeping them in there the whole time - Squirt never sits through a service.
The temper tantrums are getting worse around here. I know it's Terrible Threes and all, but holy cow. From none to one-every-few-minutes is ridiculous - how does he know he turned 3? How do you keep your kids from throwing giant fits? What do you do when they do throw fits in public/at playdates/at church? It's just wearing me out and I get so embarrassed to boot (and I know other moms will say 'don't be embarrassed we've all been there' but it doesn't seem like anyone else's kids act like this).
Signed,
Frustrated S Club Mama
What would you do? Do you leave your kids in the nursery/Sunday School during church? We would like to have our kids in there with us so we don't have to teach them at a later time to sit still during church. But lately we've definitely contemplated keeping them in there the whole time - Squirt never sits through a service.
The temper tantrums are getting worse around here. I know it's Terrible Threes and all, but holy cow. From none to one-every-few-minutes is ridiculous - how does he know he turned 3? How do you keep your kids from throwing giant fits? What do you do when they do throw fits in public/at playdates/at church? It's just wearing me out and I get so embarrassed to boot (and I know other moms will say 'don't be embarrassed we've all been there' but it doesn't seem like anyone else's kids act like this).
Signed,
Frustrated S Club Mama
Comments
~Hope it gets better for you!!
Keep at it and eventually he'll understand.
My advice would be if you take him out for discipline, be sure to bring him back in to the sanctuary. Even if you have to do it ten times. By you staying out he is learning he can get out of it. There is a book called "Parenting In The Pew" that I heard was good although I never read it.
Maybe practicing at home by listening to a sermon on tape while sitting still (5 minutes at a time) would help.
I know this is long...sorry I got carried away :)
I am by no means an expert. I struggle too with my own kids...don't we all...and yes I am sure every mom/dad has had their kid throw a fit in public. With our kids we have no nursery at church so I have had to mat train them at home and then expect them to understand the concept when going to church. It requires consistency...actually discipline in general requires consistency. At home most times I just have to threaten to go to the kitchen (that is wear the spanking stick is) and the behavior 9 times out of 10 stops because they know if we have made it to the kitchen they will be getting a hard spanking...at church or in public I threaten the bathroom because they know what happens when we go there. I know not everyone is a believer in spankings, but my kids hate them because they hurt their behinds, but in general it works for mine. Also remain calm with them while you are giving them a spanking. It makes it even worse if they see you all frazzled. I would just work on the consistency part at home this week if I were you...T throws a fit...immediately take him to where he gets a spanking...ok. my two cents..again I am not an expert...just telling you what I do and would do it your case..
good luck with whatever you decide works for you...!!
Most of the time it is more distracting to us as opposed to the people around us... but maybe you could practice taking them to church once a month and the nursery the other times.
Both of our daughters used to cry when we left them, but we just explained repeatedly that this was their special class time, and that we would see them after church was over. It took a while, but now they have a wonderful time...and we actually get to hear the sermon!
I hope you find something that works for you soon!! :)
If they do sit with you at some point during church service, just bring a bag of quiet activities for them to do. Use the stuff ONLY on Sundays so they don't get bored of it. My sons like "I Spy" type books, crayons or color wonders, lacing toys!!, stickers and paper, even workbooks for the older one. Good luck!!