Do you feel embarrassed when your toddler has a break down in public?

Question

My 3 year old had a temper tantrum, screaming, crying, throwing her self on the floor yesterday because she did something mean to the little girl she was playing with and i told her we have to leave now. And she broke down. I had to pick her up and carry her out the house yelling. I feel totally embarrassed, is it just me? Should i apologize to the girls mom for my daughter behavior.

P.S. This behavior is not common from her. She is a very smart 3 year old, however they all have their moments.

Answer 1

I always feel embarrassed when my children melt down in public. I think it just comes with the parenting territory. Whether or not to apologize to the  other mom is up to you, it depends on how well you know her and how well she knows your daughter. If it was just a playdate with someone you didn't know well, I would say yes. If not, I wouldn't sweat it. Most moms know that a meltdown will happen, even in the best of situations.  

Answer 2

i can care less of what ppl think my 2 yr old been doing that since age 1 i just remove her from the problem and let ppl stair if the have a problem o well its a baby being her age and learning things the same way they learned thing

Answer 3

NO...Never feel embarrassed because everyone knows a 3 year old will have TT's and it doesn't mean ur a bad or mean mom. You should have ur daughter apologize to the girl AND her mother. When you have them apologize to the adult to it shows them its bigger than just the girl and often times they get embarrassed and just sit there. But if she throws a TT in public just turn around and ignore her(if in safe place to fully ignore w/o watching out of corner of eye) and cont. on with your doing before the Tantrum and i bet she will stop cause she is not getting the attention she wanted. Then later after you are home sit her down and tell her it wasn't right and you can make her have time out at home or if u choose not to punish at all is up to you. some would just like to let it go. But the key is just to ignore her. I promise you it works. Most kids just give up and move on!

Answer 4

Of course it's "common", she's 3!  ALL three year old go thru that at one point or another.

I think remaining calm and realizing that everyone who has had a kid knows that this can happen and they don't blame the parent.  The only time they may blame the parent is if the parent does nothing or gives into the child when they are having the tantrum.

No reason to feel embarrased or to apologize.  

Answer 5

i am dealing with the same thing with my 3yr old son yesterday i took him with me to finish his registration forms for preschool and i got so embarrassed he threw a tantrum in front of his new teacher because he said that he was thirsty so the teacher gave him a cup of water from the water cooler but he did not want her to do it.  (it was bad) all i could do was apologized and leave.

Answer 6

When one of my children had "temper tantrum", I spank them and they stop immediately. next time no tantrums :-)

Answer 7

Of course we feel embarrassed, although we shouldn't!

All kids go through this.  You did the right thing by removing her from the situation.  Call the other mom and apologize for having to leave so soon on account of your daughters behavior and I bet she'll say something to the effect of, don't worry about it, we all have those days!!

Answer 8

i was babysitting one day and i had my two kids and two other kids with me the two other kids are twins and they are 4 years old and my kids were not even one at the time i took them out to lunch and abby the 4 year old decided she wanted to run around in the place so i got up grabbed her and brought her to her seat she started screaming and yelling so i told her to be quit so then her sister started doing the same thing screaming and yelling it was so embarrassing but what i am trying to say is kids will be kids these days

Answer 9

my husband gets embarrassed but i dont cause i know im not the only one out their with a child that sometimes has to act a fool in public but then after she threw a fit in the store and i said we werre leaving he took he back to the toy isle and bought her a toy i could of kicked his you know what

Answer 10

Not usually - but I have 3 - so I'm kind of used to it.  Plus I figure everyone around me either is a parent of young kids, had kids at one time, or has grandkids, so we've all been there.  I think it's more how you, the parent, handles the meltdown.  

Answer 11

i dont get embarrassed . my son is 15 months old . if someoncant understand that children have there moments , then they can go the other way . now i do ,do my best to get him calmed down , but still , things happen .  

Answer 12

My 2 year old is a VERY independent and strong willed young lady, and I have definitely carried her out of places before because she simply wouldn't behave. I'm a bit on the old-fashioned and tough side though, and often I more wonder whether I was being too tough or not. Don't be embarrassed! If the other mom has a kid of the age your child would be playing with, I have no doubt she's been through the same thing once or twice before (whether she'll admit it or not).

Answer 13

Are you serious?

I'm always blushing when my kids have a breakdown. I usually just say sorry and then comfort my daughters outside. Its also not common for my daughters either but there both twins so there always yelling at each other for like, taking one of there toys or something.

Answer 14

Maybe for her being mean to the other child. children do have their moments but i think it is how you deal with those moments. I never liked a tantrum and did not cater to them or give the child what they wanted simply because they were going to try one out on me .To me ...a tantrum is just the child trying to force you to give them what they want and for some parents ...they just give in and the child knows this and will continue to throw them because it gets them what they want. I think that she didn't  want to leave.and maybe you didn't have to leave but your feelings on the matter prompted you to do so because she had been mean and then started having a tantrum. next time try having her apologize to the child . that will further show her that you cannot be mean to your playmates.

Answer 15

not embarressed as much as annoyed

my dd is only 1 & is already flexing her tantrum wings

im not embarressed by them b/c I dont care so much what other people think - sometimes I just get annoyed b/c if im doing something important like at the DMV or something its not a goodtime for a 1 yr olds melt down!!

Answer 16

LOL... Dont be embarrassed, its common. My 3 year old once threw herself down in the middle of walmart (by the cash registers) and was turning red banging her head on the floor. I just stood there and waited for her to finish, which she quickly did, as she wasn't getting any attention from me for acting that way. Once they see they arent getting a rise out of you they will stop. My husband, on the other hand was mortified.

I would not apologize to the girls mom. What do you have to apologize for? You weren't throwing the tantrum, and the girls mom should know that is just the nature of a three year old. If you feel obligated to say something, make a joke out of it. Say something to the effect of Little Mary decided she didn't want to go back home because she knows Tuesday is laundry day. I do the same thing when I wake up in the morning.

And leave it at that. You dont have to explain yourself. And if the girls mother expects you to then maybe your daughter needs new friends!

Answer 17

Yes, it's embarrassing.  And my daughter is only 16 months!  I thought by 3, they pretty much outgrew that stuff.  Don't worry, they all have their good days and bad days, just like us.  Do not ever apologize for your child's behaviour.  She's only 3, I would hope the mother would understand, all kids go through phases like that whether or not they admit it.  

I don't understand your comment about being smart??  Intelligence has nothing to do whatsoever with temper tantrums.