What are the worst places to take kids?
My kids are out of school today for a teacher workday so I have scheduled to take all three of them to the dentist for a cleaning.
While it is convenient to do them all at once, it is also generally stressful. This plan works better when you have more than one hygienist (or hair stylist) to work on them simultaneously. Then I just pop from room to room and everyone is done at the same time.
The last time I took them all to this dentist, Walsh stayed in the waiting room with a book while the girls were worked on. I kept popping out to check on him and each time he was gabbing with a new person. (No surprise there!) We were pretty good until two were waiting on the last one and then they got unruly.
They also got in trouble for putting their hands in a waterfall display in the office. It’s a fairly large one and the nurse said it had chemicals in the water. (I guess chlorine.)
I keep considering taking them for the flu shots in the morning but I’m not sure I can stand two terrible things in one day. But it would be so great to get that knocked off the list!
I also can’t stand taking kids to the post office. Invariably it takes forever and they end up wrestling or running by the post office boxes.
What places or things do you hate to take your kids? Would you go for the efficiency of scheduling all three kids at once for dentist or doctor’s appointments or would that make you crazy?
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46 comments Add your comment
Tom
October 17th, 2011
1:21 pm
(1)UGA football games
(2)strip clubs
ABC
October 17th, 2011
1:23 pm
My kid does great at the doctor and dentist, so there’s nowhere I hate taking him. I will say that his pediatric dentist prefers if parents stay in the waiting area, which is fine with me. That way, someone with multiple kids wouldn’t be popping from room to room as TWG stated. At elementary age and older, kids seem to do better in those situations when their helicopter parents aren’t nearby stressing them out.
Lori
October 17th, 2011
1:34 pm
My son’s dentist also makes me stay in the waiting room. Not sure why you would need to “pop in on them” while they are getting their teeth cleaned anyway! The worst place to take my son is shopping. He hates going. I never do it unless I absolutely have to go to the store for something (for example: one time I had to buy some clothes for a funeral) and I can’t find someone to watch him. Other than that, I just try to engage him in what we are doing. If it’s the post office, I let him help carry the packages, if it’s the grocery store, I give him the list and let him remind me as we walk down the aisles. As long as he’s occupied with a purpose, I don’t have any troubles. Of course, I currently only have one child, so I can’t speak to the difficulties of having to drag multiple kids around.
K's mom
October 17th, 2011
1:58 pm
I think anytime you set yourself and kids up to fail it can be a miserable experience. I plan my day around naps, so that no one else in the world is irritated by my kid’s melt down. I have errands to run tomorrow for work (I have my own decorating business) and I could take my child, but it would be a mess. So he is going to mother’s morning out to play, so I can focus on what I need to do.
Now that I am pregnant again, taking him with me to my doc’s appts is not a great treat for him, so again I rely on MMO. I love taking him to the grocery, drug store, etc. because he enjoys being around other people!
lurker
October 17th, 2011
2:16 pm
I agree with Lori – no need for you to pop in on them. Our pediatric dentist actually wants mom to stay OUT! Let go a little, they are not 2 years old!
Augusta
October 17th, 2011
2:17 pm
SPORTING EVENTS and CONCERTS!!!! Leave the kids under age 16 at home!!! There is no need to drag a 5 year old to a Who concert…
ABC
October 17th, 2011
2:20 pm
Oh and TWG, stop stressing about the flu shot. Just take them and get it done. It hurts for all of 2 seconds, and then it’s over for the year. Sorry, but you are acting like you have 3 infants who don’t understand what shots are. And next time at the dentist, how about if *you* stayed in the waiting room. You seem to be a bundle of nerves and are easily frazzled, which does influence your kids. Try bringing a book, sitting calmly in the waiting room and waiting for the dentist or hygienist to come get you when they are done to discuss anything further. You might be surprised how well they do without you!
lurker
October 17th, 2011
2:21 pm
The helicopter parenting actually makes these situations more stressful for the kids than they need to be
i LOVE...
October 17th, 2011
2:26 pm
who has the control in this family? parents or kids?
cannot handle your own children in public? that’s a darn shame.
Augusta
October 17th, 2011
2:26 pm
Not to mention the stress on the people who are trying to work on the kid…….
JJ
October 17th, 2011
2:29 pm
When my neighbor and her daughter, took the granddaughter, 2 years old, to the dentist to get 5 cavities filled, they wouldn’t let the mom or Grandma back with the kid. The kid was fine, but grandma was furious with them, and told them they were torturing the child…..
When I heard this story from my neighbor, I said to her “they didn’t torture the baby, you did by giving her all that candy and juice that caused the cavities.” She still refuses to take that kid back to that dentist. They just won’t take her to a dentist PERIOD!!!
I bet....
October 17th, 2011
3:21 pm
her dentist dreads when her kids come in! they need to tell her to stay out.
motherjanegoose
October 17th, 2011
3:34 pm
I never went to the back with my kids when they went to the dentist nor the ortho. I just sent them back with the techs and we did not seem to have any trouble.
I do remember, years ago, a teacher telling me that her husband had taken her boys to the library, on a teacher workday. He had stayed home from work and was running errands with the children. The younger boy was so awful, the Librarian came up to her husband and said, ” Please do not bring this child back to our library.” The Dad came home and reported to the teacher, I knew.
I could not fathom being banned from the library, as my kids both LOVED it. Yes, there were times when my two were not on their best ( or even good) behavior but we have never been banned from any place we had visited.
Several years ago, I met two librarians ( retired) while shopping for furniture at Brownlee’s in Lawrenceville. They looked at me and said that I looked familiar. We chatted and discovered that they remembered my son when he was four, at the Lilburn Library. I was pregnant with my daughter and we attended story hour each week.
Their comment, “he could READ all the books we were reading and he was only FOUR!” I laughed and told him what he was up to now! It was fun to run into them and amazing that they remembered me!
BlondeHoney
October 17th, 2011
4:11 pm
I agree with the others who stayed out in the waiting room…that’s what I did with both my boy’s dentist & ortho and they were perfectly fine. Only went if they called me back for something.
jarvis
October 17th, 2011
4:38 pm
I’d avoid crack houses.
Once Again
October 17th, 2011
4:40 pm
1. Government school/prison
Keep them home and educate them there.
Techmom
October 17th, 2011
4:42 pm
My son’s been going to a pediatric dentist for years. They absolutely do not allow the parents to come back with the child other than on the first visit when they do a walk-through with the child. Also the dentist my son goes to is a large practice with lots of hygienists so it’s easy to make appts for multiple children. Maybe you ought to change dentists T. Or why not schedule them on different days and make a breakfast date out of it with each individual child? I know it’s difficult while working but encourage your husband to alternate and then don’t have to do it 6 times a year.
Once Again
October 17th, 2011
4:45 pm
And don’t subject them to the poison of a flu shot. The shot contains 25ug of mercury (a toxin), egg proteins, and other additives that seriously damage the immune system. Get your kid plenty of vitamin D (D3 only). Get them taking 5-10000 units a day or make sure they get a good period of sunshine (without sunscreen so they can actually produce vit. D – this won’t work if you have dark skin so take those supplements). Get them healthy meals with little to no sugar so their immune systems will function properly and they will be fine for winter. The flu will not kill them even if they get it. The vaccine will likely cause much long-term harm to their immune system. Don’t buy into the lies from Big Pharma. The annual flu vaccine is the biggest scam of them all.
sknfan
October 17th, 2011
4:52 pm
To Once Again,
you should not speak about that which you do not know. The flu shot is ONE of the biggest things you can do to protect yourself and your children. 26,000 people die annually from influenza and over 100,000 people are hospitalized annually due to complications from influenza. It has NOTHING to do with big pharma as you stated.
Stop the Whining
October 17th, 2011
5:05 pm
Flu shots – you bet. Last year, my daughter was sick with the flu for 10 days over the holidays. It was awful for everyone. This year, she asked for a flu shot. Good girl.
Ok, I just have to say this, but why do parents keep having kids and then vent about not being able to control them? What about stopping at 1 or 2 instead going for broke? I try to be very sympathic when kids are having meltdowns, but it doesn’t take a genius to realize when the kids are in the control of the situation and not their parents. We watched Supernanny and she advocated letting a 2 yr old work out their tantrum at a restaurant. Sorry, that just doesn’t work for me. Other poeple are paying the same price to eat there and don’t want to hear a kid melting down for 15-20 minutes. If your kids can’t behave for an hour or so, there is definitely a problem there and not just for your family but for all of those people who have to hear the kids being whiny, watching them run around and be a general nuisance. Believe me, not everyone thinks your kids are adorable as you do.
Christina
October 17th, 2011
5:48 pm
You should definately not take your little ones to the nail or hair salon where moms go to get a BREAK from their own kids. They don’t want to listen to yours.
Jayne
October 17th, 2011
6:05 pm
@ Stop the Whining! Thank you for your post! I see so many bad kids that get on my nerves. It seems as if parents just don’t have control anymore.
irisheyes
October 17th, 2011
6:06 pm
I don’t go back with the oldest one, but with my middle who suffers from high anxiety, I do go back. The hygenists have a hard time working with him, so it helps to have me close to try and calm him.
Sylvania
October 17th, 2011
6:07 pm
TWG, no offense, but it sounds like your kids have trouble behaving in public spaces. Seems like they control you, and probably don’t respect you as the authority figure as much as they should. Guess whose fault that is?
What are the worst places to take your kids? Everyplace…if they can’t behave. This isn’t a “kid problem”, it’s a “parent problem.” Kids misbehave because they’re allowed to misbehave. When I misbehaved, or didn’t follow my parents’ instructions, I was punished. I’d like to think parents still do this.
What is so hard to understand about: “I want you to sit down, stay there, and read your book.”
Progressive Humanist
October 17th, 2011
6:10 pm
Church.
Jayne
October 17th, 2011
6:21 pm
@ Sylvania: After following this blog I’ve come to the same conclusion and I read it for the opinions of the posters and not the blogger. I don’t want to make her feel bad but I’ve often felt that she has no control over her kids. Often it seems that the everyday problems of other parents just wear her out. Goodness, like the toilet last week . . what would happen if she had to face some really hard tasks..
kay
October 17th, 2011
6:22 pm
TWG said she was popping into the waiting room to check on her son, not the exam room.
Jack
October 17th, 2011
6:44 pm
Nobody wants to hear it, but there was a time when kids weren’t allowed to disrupt ANYTHING. All it took was a look of disapproval from mom or dad and we straighened up. If we behaved badly in public, we knew there’d be hell to pay when we got home.
Theresa Walsh Giarrusso
October 17th, 2011
6:53 pm
dentist went pretty well — waited in the lobby for R and W but went back with L. no cavities — so that’s good.
We went two places after trying to get flu shots — the Walgreen pharmacy didnt’ take our insurance and the Take Care Clinic had an hour wait sooo I went to the grocery store and they did three of us there — they couldn’t do L. cause she’s under six. so I will have to take her another day to the pediatrician and just pay the copay — no copay at the grocery store.
the wait at the grocery store took a little long — they played with the blood pressure machine. went better than expected and marked off the list.
laserbadfiregood.
October 17th, 2011
7:14 pm
Tom is a moron.
Miss Priss!
October 17th, 2011
7:27 pm
Baptist vacation Bible school!
MA
October 17th, 2011
7:35 pm
Airplanes!!!!!
catlady
October 17th, 2011
7:38 pm
Sorry, Theresa, I knew you would catch he** on this. I was prepared to give it to you. If your kids are of average or above intellect, and age 4 or more, send them in for their cleaning, alone. Let the doctor come for you for any report.
If your children misbehave, bust them! Whatever is appropriate, including spanking, in my opinion. YOU have to train them to be in public, and it sounds like it is not going well. YOU are the adult, and YOU are in charge. Stop abdicating your role! Not only will your children be happier with an adult being in charge, but everyone else will who comes in contact with your children.
Are you worried about the hygenists trying to “touch” your children? Or afraid they will kidnap them? (thinking on prior blog topics). Cannot figure out your seeming distrust. Give your kids the gift of grounding (discipline), and of space to be developmentally competent. (don’t hand them the car keys yet, for example.)
When you are out in public, tell your kids, “Sit. Stay.” And absolutely hold them to it! Your kids are smarter than a golden retriever, aren’t they? They CAN learn to behave correctly! Don’t suffer from the behavior version of Munchausen by Proxy!
MJG, I am not surprised that they remembered you!
Where not to take your kids? The funeral home, at least when they are young. And that is for ANY family member’s death! Please.
Jacksmum
October 17th, 2011
7:41 pm
You parents are rich! Theresa puts herself out there to offer advice to you. She never claimed to be perfect. If she wasn’t willing to air her parenting skills/challenges for your morons to judge, you wouldn’t be getting all this great free information from each other. Be kind, I doubt any of you are perfect parents either.
To the point of the blog….nice restaurants. If I am dressing up and eating a nice dinner with my husband, I do not want to hear you working our your kid’s issues. The nail salon was also a good call!
Theresa – you are most professional. Your lack of “bite back” to these ungracious readers is beyond compare.
Sick of today's Moms
October 17th, 2011
8:20 pm
Hey Jacksmum, Theresa doesn’t offer advise . . .she seeks it! Her kids have all the control and I don’t think her husband is much help either.
FoorballMom
October 17th, 2011
8:36 pm
After the last 10 days…..the ICU in the hospital. It’s stressful enough being there without kids running around. Really people??
brandi
October 17th, 2011
8:42 pm
to the movies to see rated PG13 or R movies!!
Denise
October 17th, 2011
8:52 pm
@brandi – YES!!!! And movies after 8. If you can’t find a babysitter sometimes you just can’t go. (coming from someone with no kids…but someone who doesn’t want kids having bedtime meltdowns in the movies)
HB
October 17th, 2011
11:32 pm
Catlady, given Theresa’s description of her kids’ behavior, I wonder if her fear is about how they will act, not concerns about the dentist. T, my guess is there were no chemicals in the fountain. The nurse was just trying to scare you into making your kids behave. There’s no excuse for kids the ages of your older two being unruly in public, but you seem to have just accepted that’s the way it is. Sounds like they’re living up to your expectations. You need to raise that bar.
MILF Chaser
October 18th, 2011
8:56 am
“Church.
Your comment is FAIL.
^_^
Duh
October 18th, 2011
9:07 am
1) Any public place.
|ll|lll|llll|||ll|
October 18th, 2011
10:38 am
Church
ssidawg
October 18th, 2011
12:19 pm
I generally don’t have a problem with kids being in specific places but it does make me upset to see a kid out when they’ve been set up to fail. For example, a 2 year old at a restaurant at 9:00 at night. It’s obviously past the kid’s bedtime and how else are they supposed to act but to be fussy? Be a caring parent- take your child home and put him to bed!
Name (required)
October 18th, 2011
1:26 pm
NASCAR races. Aside from the obvious hearing damage risks, the absolute dregs of society hang out at NASCAR tracks. Drunk, crude, vulgar, racist….you name it. It’s there. I would love to take my son, but only if we can get in a suite…..which I’m assuming will never happen.
catlady
October 18th, 2011
6:25 pm
Remember, Theresa, you and your children may be the only Georgians these folks have met! Think of what they will think of all of us if the receptionist has to reprimand your kids for playing in the water feature!
Sarah
October 24th, 2011
1:14 am
Wow… not a regular on this blog but am stunned by all the negativity. When I read the topic, I didn’t read it as an attack the blogger topic. I will never understand why women are so mean and judgemental of other women and their choices. SHEESH!
I persoanlly do not go back into the dentists office with my kids, but it’s not a big deal if someone wants to do so. If my kids asked me to, I probably would and not think twice about it. Parenting is not a one size fits all kind of thing. What works for you might not work for others.
I agree with the other poster who said hair and nail salons. When I am sitting in that chair for 3 hours to get my color/cut/highlights, I don’t really want to be around kids, even if they are well behaved. I have to pinch pennys and save for my salon visits, and that’s my treat to myself and I don’t want to hear kids in my background.