The Wal-Mart Tragedy

Whew, it feels like so long since I have blogged! I have to get back in the swing. I'll start by sharing my Wal-Mart Tragedy with you...

A couple Sunday's ago I decided to bring Chloe to Wal-Mart with me for a little mommy-daughter time, in hindsight this was not the best decision I have made as a mother as Chloe was really tired and had not napped well that day.

As we enter Wal-Mart Chloe announces "I have to go potty" and those of us mom's who have recently potty trained little ones, it is time for the mad dash to the bathroom. We arrive in the bathroom and all is well. Chloe proceeds to sit on the potty, and nothing happens, and she sits, and nothing happens, and she sits....you get the point. I sat with her patiently for about 15 minutes (longer than I probably should have). I finally announce that she needs to finish and counted down from 10 on my fingers. At the end of the 10 second count down and the "get off the potty" directions were given...they are met with a shrill...top of the lungs...SCREAM! I was mortified. After many attempts to calm Chloe down with absolutely NO luck I picked Chloe up and told her that was enough. I walked out to wash my hands thinking that the mommy walking away trick would work....and of course it did not AND Chloe KEPT screaming. This is not a little scream, it is top of your lungs....red faced scream. After my attempts to still calm her failed I walked out of the bathroom (just so it is said, Chloe is fully capable of opening the door it was light and the handle was low for her). And then....Chloe comes crawling out of the bathroom on her hands and knees and screaming!!!! I promptly proceeded to pick her up and walk out of Wal-Mart with Chloe kicking and screaming and making an absolute spectacle. I put her in her car seat and we drove home. I put on KTIS loud so I would calm down by the time I got home. When i got home, I brought Chloe upstairs and told her she needed to go to sleep NOW. Chloe cried herself to sleep, and of course after about 20 minutes I could not stand to hear her so I went and we took a nap together.

So, I was mortified and feeling like a horrible mom. I talked to a few people...my mom, my daycare lady, co-workers who all assured me that I am not alone and that events like this don't make you a bad mom! Thank you to everyone who encouraged me!! I needed it!

So, I was determined that GOOD things were going to come from this! #1, lesson learned, DO NOT TAKE CHLOE out when she is tired. I am just signing us both up for failure! #2, I have to start some type of rewards system for her to give her something to work towards! So I started a chore/behavior chart combined...Chloe earns stickers and after she earns 15 stickers, she gets a Prize, a Treat, or a Special Activity. I found customizable charts here (see below)...
http://www.dltk-cards.com/chart/
#3, I need to get more creative with my correction so I am keeping Chloe in her toes.

We have been doing this chart now for about 1 1/2 weeks and Chloe is into it! She really likes the rewards and I have seen an improvement in her attitude and also her and I are working TOGETHER on her behavior since we both want her to succeed!

So, good things can and do happen from bad events!

Cheers,
Beth