Parents try to do the best they can for their children, but there are no perfect parents out there, nor are there any perfect children. Each is an individual, and the way parents deal with issues while bringing up their children are also different. However, do you feel embarrassed sometimes by your child’s antics in public?
Indeed, sometimes finding the courage to discipline your child when out in a public space can be a hard task. So when actor Justin Baldoni was confronted with his toddler having a meltdown at a local Whole Foods store while shopping with the family, how did he handle the situation?
In a picture that was clicked by his wife, Emily, you can notice his toddler, Maiya, who was face down on the floor, having a full-on screaming fit; and standing over her, almost as her protector, was Baldoni, with his dad looking on as well. Both men appeared relaxed, watching and waiting for Maiya to calm down. Despite the crowd watching, Baldoni was firm on his stance and didn’t give in to his daughter’s tantrum.
Baldoni wrote: “My dad taught me so much about what it means to be a man, but this post is about one thing and one thing only. Being comfortable in the uncomfortable. Something I grew up watching him do with me over and over again. There are no perfect parents, but one thing my dad taught me is to not parent based on what anyone else thinks.”
Alluding to his dad’s parenting style, Badone further continued: “My dad always let me feel what I needed to feel, even if it was in public and embarrassing. I don’t remember him ever saying ”You’re embarrassing me!“ or ”Dont cry!“ It wasn’t until recently that I realized how paramount that was for my own emotional development.”
“I try to remember to make sure my daughter knows it’s OK that she feels deeply. It’s not embarrassing to me when she throw tantrums in the grocery store, or screams on a plane. I’m her dad…not yours,” he further added.
Baldoni’s also advised parents on his post, stating: “Let’s not be embarrassed for our children. It doesn’t reflect on you. In fact.. we should probably be a little more kind and patient with ourselves too. If we got out everything we were feeling and allowed ourselves to throw tantrums and cry when we felt the need to then maybe we'd could also let ourselves feel more joy and happiness. And that is something this world could definitely use a little more of.”
Unsurprisingly, his words of wisdom took the internet by storm. His post has since received 113,000 reactions, some 47,000 shares, and over 11,000 comments. Social media users took to share their stories of how they deal with their child’s meltdowns in public spaces.
One user wrote: “I love this ❤️ nobody is being hurt by her tantrum. I will say though for me personally, if it was a restaurant, church or airplane where other people were being disturbed I'd handle it differently than I would in a supermarket, park, or Disney where those bothered could keep on moving!”
Meanwhile, another mother shared: “I love this! It couldn’t be more true. Especially as a mother of an autistic son. Who has been getting looks for nearly 12 years now because of behaviors. Thank you for all you just said. It means a lot more than some might think, in so many ways.”
Indeed, every parent has their own unique way of dealing with tantrums; however, we can all remind ourselves to be a little patient and compassionate not just to our kids but also to ourselves.
