tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36270856.post6380140215885327042..comments2023-04-27T17:14:04.572+09:00Comments on Sweet Things: saying no did the trickSarah@mommyinjapanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01461367282447656731noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36270856.post-14460377409885658162008-05-23T08:51:00.000+09:002008-05-23T08:51:00.000+09:00None of you seem to have hyperactive kids, which i...None of you seem to have hyperactive kids, which is a whole other circumstance. I did, but fortunately he was the youngest, and therefore always the cutest until about 10, but that's another story for another day. When he got antsy in a public place like a restaurant, or especially church, I would hold him on my lap facing out, cross one arm around his chest and another arm across to his opposite leg, like a human straight jacket. Then I would rock him silently but steadily, and he would just calm right down and join in the family time, no problem. If I absentmindedly relaxed my grasp, he was out and under the table (or pew!) and away before even he knew what he had done!!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36270856.post-8049372056163854582008-05-22T20:11:00.000+09:002008-05-22T20:11:00.000+09:00Hi Sarah! First let me say, I've been reading your...Hi Sarah! First let me say, I've been reading your blog for a few months now and I enoy your writing and love hearing about your girls. It sounds like you are doing an excellent job raising your kids. You make a great point here. Some parents are afraid to say no to their kids, but it only ends up backfiring. People think that babies are too young to understand when you talk to them, but this is not true. If you show your child that they CAN understand, then they WILL understand. My niece has been to restaurants ever since she was tiny so she's used to it now. At home she asks "May I please leave the table?" before she is allowed to, and she knows that if she asks too soon that the answer will be no. I once heard my BIL tell her "No! We're having a conversation and if you can't cooperate then you can't come to a restaurant with us" her response was "Can cooperate! Having conversation!" this was when she was about 2yrs 6mths. KatieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36270856.post-2346828931121469022008-05-22T14:37:00.000+09:002008-05-22T14:37:00.000+09:00I will add that technique to my diaper bag! Thank...I will add that technique to my diaper bag! Thanks! KimKimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05848246862878846083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36270856.post-23807015692336063702008-05-21T17:42:00.000+09:002008-05-21T17:42:00.000+09:00Ditto Sarah and also exactly what Tigermama said e...Ditto Sarah and also exactly what Tigermama said exactly as well! Actually all commenters had good stuff to say though! : ) But yeah.... same here! : ) My kids know what we expect at restaurants as well. We bring coloring books and sticker books. And same....except for a tired or cranky child....They are really well behaved at restaurants. If they are behaving badly though all I gotta do is give them a certain look, I give my kids (if they are misbehaving that is) and they know they should fall into line and for the most part they will and then that's the end of it and we can enjoy dinner again.: )<BR/><BR/>And btw, my MIL always used that method of extracting the child from a restaurant for my sil's kids (her daughter). She did that with my nephew and niece, since they were wee little babies. And they still are poorly behaved at restaurants. : (Ginahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02427544303742999100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36270856.post-80836377044064113102008-05-21T16:39:00.000+09:002008-05-21T16:39:00.000+09:00We are the same way with our kids and it works! I ...We are the same way with our kids and it works! I absolutely did not want to be avoiding restaurants for years and years and so we "trained" our kids from a very young age in what kind of behaviour is expected from them. And, like you said, barring the occasional sick/tired/hungry exceptions, the kids behave very well at the table. I was also always prepared with crackers, notebooks, stickers etc. to squeeze out a few extra minutes of good behaviour!Tigermamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07561410317253800677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36270856.post-13788520365440553512008-05-21T14:46:00.000+09:002008-05-21T14:46:00.000+09:00hi, it's my first time to comment here. But I was ...hi, it's my first time to comment here. But I was taken by your method - I sooooo swore that I would not have misbehaving kids. I know that all my mother had to do was LOOK at me and I would behave (lol). But I am also now finding it all a bit "easier said than done"?. I have a 13month old, and am going to borrow your method with her next time we go out for dinner! thanks!<BR/><BR/>can I ask if you have a method to deal with a meltdown on public transport??? I know it was close to her nap time today, and we still had about 20mins of train ride to go, so I was asking for it really, but my daughter went ape on the train. Any hints on how to intervene (obviously, avoiding pre-nap time would have been best!!)I attempted a few "round and round the garden" followed by some playing with my sunglasses (sigh) which helped out a bit....tj-injapanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11745195888709905253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36270856.post-85946581622040831942008-05-21T14:13:00.000+09:002008-05-21T14:13:00.000+09:00I could totally relate to this post. When my broth...I could totally relate to this post. When my brothers and sister and I were young we were required to do exactly what your girls are required to do. I think what you are doing is fabulous. <BR/><BR/>My sister on the otherhand, growing up the way she did, rebeled against that rule and now her little kids are terrors to take to a restuarant. <BR/><BR/>I know that when I eventually have children I am going to ensure that my children are as wellbehaved as we were when we were kids. I am going to take your method onboard, and remember it for when the times comes for me!Nayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01423661397745778303noreply@blogger.com