A Meetin’ in the Ladies Room.

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Sizzling Hot!

So, my husband and I went to Chili’s for an impromptu “Date Night.” We were greeted and seated in a quiet corner near a window. “ Welcome to Chilis. My name is Josh, and I’ll be your server tonight. Can I get you folks something to drink? Great I’ll be right back with them. Would you like a little more time to go over the menu? I’ll be right back to take your order.”

If there is one thing I can say about Arizona, customer service in restaurants is always *****.   We settled on the sizzling fajita platters with chicken, beef, and shrimps.  Just then a little boy sitting in a highchair to the left of us started to fuss.  “No! No! No!” His Mother was trying to rein him in but, it wasn’t working. He was on a roll. Folthenks were doing their best to ignore this little nut-box. Oh man, I shook my head. There goes our romantic evening.

A Storm is Coming!

He got louder and started kicking and twisting his head from side-to-side and waving his tablet.   I felt for his Mother but, I got irritated.  The last thing I wanted was to hear some big-headed baby making a bunch of noise, screaming and hollering, and turning out Chilies. I wanted to enjoy my fajitas. What the hell? I had three choices.

  • Ask to sit somewhere else.
  • Pretend the noise didn’t bother me.
  • Or, my favorite, speak up.

I chose option three. “Hey!” I yelled. “Little boy.  Stop all that noise and let the rest of us eat our food in peace.”  He caught his breath. My husband was probably thinking, “Oh no! Here she goes!” He knows me well. I will speak up. The little boy started up again.

“Little boy you can come over here and sit with us.  Mom, you can slide him on over here. ” We all laughed as she reached out her arms. He scurried into her lap and shut his trap.  It could have taken a different turn.  A lot of parents get pissed if you bring up the fact that their kids are disturbing them. On the other hand, some Moms welcome a little help, especially when they’re traveling with 2 or 3 other kids. There are times when you should intervene and times when you should mind your business. I’m often not good at knowing when, and I admit when it comes to kids I don’t have as much patience for nonsense. My grandkids think I’m strict, and I agree.

Scenario Two

A Mother with her two kids was standing in front of me in the return line at a department store. One was pretty mellow the other around 5ish almost cracked his head on the corner of one of the metal shelves because he was fooling around.  “Oooo watch your head.”, I said. His Mother was blunt and said, “He’ll learn.” Then he began whining because he wanted her to buy him something. “No,” she said.  The little boy hit her hand.

Mom was trying her best to deal with this nut.  “What? Don’t hit Mommy, ” I said.  He looked away.  She told me how afraid she and her husband were to discipline their kids in public because people might call Child Protective Services on them. Why?  Now, I’m not into hitting kids but, come on now.  Maybe we need to show more compassion for parents dragging a bunch of kids around while having to play child psychologist, teacher, and protectors. It’s hard dealing kids especially when they act like idiots. You do want to pop them upside the head. Trust me; I wanted to pop my kid many a time.

The Answer is No!

 

Acting up in public was a “No! No!” when I was younger.   lMa didn’t tolerate it, especially if it happened in one of her favorite stores. Before we went in, we were told what we could and couldn’t do. “Don’t touch anything. Don’t ask for nothing, and don’t go wandering off.”  Those were her directives, and she didn’t need to say it twice. If we pushed our luck, we heard, “uh uh what did I say?” She raised five kids, mostly by herself and she didn’t have the time or the energy to keep repeating herself.  “Next time you stay home.” she’d say.  Do not mess with Ma especially in public.

 

The Lady’s Room

One time my son was acting up in public. He was one of those kids who couldn’t sit still and couldn’t stop talking. “Stop it” but, he continued to be a pain in the ass.   I got up and marched his little butt into the “Ladies Room.” Once we got in there, I verbally scared him to death telling him if he didn’t stop acting up I would never take him out of the house with me again.   “Do you understand? ” Big eyes and all, “Yes Mom”. Already then.

From then on all I had to do was shoot those scary Mommy’s eyes his way and in a quiet low voice say, “Do we need to go to the Ladies Room?” “Nooo.” Alright then sit there and be quiet. Most of the time it worked. The older he got; the easier it got to just use the look. As we stood in the Kohl’s line, I shared that tidbit with the Mom. She said thanked me for the tip saying, “I might try that.

The Legacy Continues.

Photo by Hidde Rensink on Unsplash

I had my Grandkids over the Summer.  We were in the grocery store and they started asking for things, messing with each other and running in and out of the aisles.  My 14-year-old Grandson and his 12-year sister, who was notorious for wandering off to touch some fuzzy thing or another,  were having a funky good time. “Hey!  What’s the problem here?  Stop it!” And you,  little girl, do not wander away from me. Do you want to be snatched by some crazy person?”

But, my words weren’t enough. They continued yuckin’ it up and messing with each other. I stopped and watched them, and I didn’t say a word. I pulled out my cell phone and started recording.  When my Grandkids saw me, they stopped. “How ’bout I send this video to your parents?” Their eyes got round. “Sorry, Nana.” And, pointing at my Granddaughter, I said, ” I already told you once, don’t scare me by moving out of my sight. “Yes, Nana.” Later I showed them the recording. They were embarrassed. I’ll save it and show it to them when they get older or show it to their kids if they have some.

A hostage situation. Donald takes on America.

A tantrum is a tantrum, pure and simple, according to one etiquette expert.  Here are some of her tips.

  • Tell kids to be on their best behavior when in public. And, tell them to use”your church” voice.  What? Donald doesn’t do church.
  • Use coloring books, tablets and cell phones to keep them occupied. Yeah, right. Will a Twitter Account Work?
  • Manage expectations. Sometimes an unplanned hug may work, but if you’re in a tight spot, be clear, from “Stop that,” to “Be nice,”  Planned hugs? I get her point through.
  • “Remove the child from the situation. Why add insult to injury? If the outbursts don’t stop, then you end it by removing your child from the table.”  Now that ‘s a keeper.

The White House Day Care Center Is Partially Open.

I remember when children were to be seen and not heard.  I was one of them. At large family events, there was a kids table. You earned your rights to sit with grown folks. Then spankings and slaps were the norms. I read a recent article stating that all restaurants should have a designated dining area for parents with kids. Maybe, kid cams so parents can eat in peace.  At an I-hop I told my Grandson, who is a persistent clown in public,  to go and sit at his own table “over there” I pointed across the room. He didn’t like that idea. The waiter thought it was funny. Maybe we’ve given kids too much power.

“Go To Your Room! And, Don’t Come Out Until I Tell You To.”

There was no rolling of eyes! No lips poked out! No muttering under your breath! No stomping down the hall!  No slamming doors!  No talking! No breathing! Nothing! My mom was stealth. She’d sneak up on you as you went marching down the hall. You’d turned around and wack. You learned to step softly.   Beatrice Motamedi a health and medical writer based in Oakland, Calif., explained the psychology of tantrums and gave some useful tips.

There was no rolling of eyes! No lips poked out! No muttering under your breath! No stomping down the hall!  No slamming doors!  No talking! No breathing! Nothing! My mom was stealth. She’d sneak up on you as you went marching down the hall. You’d turned around and wack. You learned to step softly.

If the outbursts don’t stop, then you end it by removing your child from the table.

Beatrice Motamedi health and medical writer based in Oakland defines tantrums and some handy solutions.

1.“Fatigue or frustration tantrums. Hungry, sleepy, confused or frustrated. “The anger builds and spills out in crying and kicking.  Your response: Give your child a nap or a snack. If he’s frustrated, try to calm him. Ask him to explain what’s wrong, empathize with him (‘Gee, that computer game sure is hard!’), and encourage or offer help.  Hard to do when you’re at the Doctor’s office.

2.  Attention-seeking.  Demanding tantrums. Your child wants you to play with him even though you have guests over for dinner. Or he tells you to buy him that giant stuffed dinosaur — right now. Your response: Say no. Your child may cry, yell, and pound the floor. Smile, and tell them you love them. Put them in a safe place to have their tantrum and offer to talk again when they’re calmer. Try that in the grocery store.

3. Refusal or avoidance tantrums. “It’s snack time!” you announce; your child says no. “Time for a trip to the store!” Again, no. Pretty soon you feel as though you’re parenting a mule: No is the answer to everything you suggest, whether it’s a bath, a babysitter, or bedtime.   Your response: Let your child skip his snack if it’s not a big deal. Avoid yes/no situations by merely stating what’s going to happen and giving your child a face-saving tip-off. “Time for bed!” is abrupt. “Sweetie, 10 minutes till bedtime”. And the answer is? “NO.”

4. Disruptive tantrums. This shrieking and flailing exhibition may occur in a public place. The one that makes others cringe even when we know all kids do it. Or my technique scares the mess out of them.  Your response: Unless your child is having a rage tantrum, place him in a room and her a time-out for two to five minutes. If you’re not at home, take him outside. Don’t allow your child the thrill of flipping out in a public place; teach them they won’t get attention from you or others by misbehaving. It sounds like the “Ladies Room” technique is in order.

5. Rage tantrums. Your child loses control physically as well as emotionally — screaming, kicking, and striking out. You think he could harm himself or others. Your response: Hold your child if he’ll let you. Tell him that you will hold him until he “melts” and can get some control over himself. Some children are frightened by the intensity of their feelings. Be your child’s anchor; even if they’ve lost control, assure him that you won’t.” Most Moms will tell you that they’ve tried all of the above. Then they’d give up and watched the crazed child wear themselves out.

Criminals, Terrorist, Immigrants, and Rapist oh my.

Rage Tantrum

Don’t Let Them In!

Where are the illegal aliens on this list?

We’ve made America great!

It’s a National Emergency.

It’s been called Donald’s vanity project.

 

Donald is a danger to us all. Who’s keeping terrorist off the planes while the Government is shut down?

It’s Either a Visit to the Ladies Room or Removal from the Table.

Fatigue or frustration tantrums over a wall or fence or slats or an invisible dome are downright stupid. Donald can’t figure out he wants to call the wall. Mostly what he wants is to get his way. The stomping out of meetings, slamming doors, screaming,  hollering in his office, lashing out at his staff, the media, social media and anyone else who will give him an audience. Does anyone have a real conversation with this man? He’s run all his staff away and no one wants to work with him.

Attention-seeking.  Demanding tantrums.  Donald is a brat. And guess what? He doesn’t give a damn. The Alt-Right loves him.   “The Freedom Coalition” encourages him, and the majority of us are tired of him and his antics.

I said, “NO”.

“Nancy Pelosi, a Mother, and Grandmother know that if you give a kid an inch, they’ll take a mile. “NO, she says.  Donald is not accustomed to Mama putting him in his place with the world watching and media cameras recording. You’d think he’d shut his pie-hole.  But, no. Some people are beyond help without medical intervention. I think he’s reached this point.

“They’ll make adjustments.

They always do.”

Did I hear Donald say that? Yep. But, Donald what about all the federal employees who don’t get their paychecks? What about the people who depend on government assistance for food, or to pay their rent. What are we building a wall or a hotel?

People will choose the wall rather than eat he claims.  Now, that’s just vicious. And another government department head, who is working and will get paid says, workers are better off because they’ll get vacation pay as workers head to the Unemployment lines. Wow.

How about we send federal workers on ho’s stro’ to make some money. It probably pays more. Hundreds of thousands of federal workers got a check with zeros in the box showing their earnings. What an insult; a paycheck the zeros! And, to me, the worse is demanding people to go back to work for no pay — the new and improved slavery model.

Do all Federal Workers Go Unpaid?

Does Congress?

What about Donald and his boy Pence?

Who’s Having a Tantrums Now?

The arguments go back and forth. Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer try to highlight unpaid federal workers. Donald claims this is about a humanitarian crisis at the border and to keep Americans from being beheaded in their houses. Come on Donald stop being so damn dramatic. Isn’t not getting a paycheck for doing your job a humanitarian crisis. Only the wall will stop these criminals, he claims. The majority of Americans know that’s not true. I just saw a news piece about tunnels built under the wall and drug smugglers using our drainage system.  Where there is a will, there is a way.  People, mostly toting weed are coming through checkpoints.

 

It’s a National Emergency. I have the right to do it!

Stupid things come out of Donald’s mouth all the time. This one is a kicker. “YOU DIDN’T THINK I MEANT MEXICO WOULD HAND US A CHECK FOR IT? ” How can his so-called base be so ignorant? Bait and switch con games are what it is. Trump is their last “Great White Hope.”  Most sane people knew Mexico wasn’t going to pay for a wall.  It’s not even logical. Why would they build a wall to keep people in Mexico if everyone is leaving for the United States? This nonsense is only campaign promise he can’t keep, and believe it or not he doesn’t want to be called a liar.  That in itself is a hoot.

 

Mexico said “NO.” Then it’s “Eminent Domain”.

Under certain circumstances, the government can take property with or without permission. Which means land would be snatched from private citizens whose property is where Donald wants to build his wall.  Now, when it comes to these border States that’s the last thing they want to support. Excuse me? Why not let Donald pay for the wall out of his pocket. He can write it off on his taxes as a gift to the American people. Oh, I forget you closed the IRS and now you decide they have to go back to work for no pay to process your money. Open the government and sit down like grown folks and discuss it. It sounds like a nasty custody battle, and the kids pay.

My Way or the Highway.

Kid’s Health.org says that you “Do not reward your child’s tantrum by giving in which will only prove to your little one that the tantrum was effective. Instead, verbally praise your child for regaining control. Use statements such as “I like how you calmed down.” Also, kids may be especially vulnerable after a tantrum when they know they’ve been less than adorable. Now (when your child is calm) is the time for a hug and reassurance that your child is loved, no matter what.”  

 

What do you think?  Are we supposed to show this grown baby “love” after he’s destroyed the lives of thousands of Americans? ” Donald’s tantrum is pushing folks to the streets.  What happens when Federal Workers miss tw0 paychecks? I watched a piece on YouTube where a CNN Reporter spoke with John Boyd Jr. of the National Black Farmers Association whose family has been farming for four generations. This man along with the majority of Americans blames Trump for the Shutdown.

End of Discussion. Bye-Bye Democracy.

We’ve all grown tired of the tyrant. Let’s get back to business and make sure we don’t let this type of person back in the White House again. Last time I looked we were living in a Democracy.  So now, we are allowing Donald to deny access to Government Aircraft to officials unless he approves it.  Aren’t those our (the people’s) aircraft? Is Congress ready to begin impeachment proceedings? It is time for lapdog Pence to become President.  Our choices are limited when it comes to having a grown person in that office. And, it is not Donald.

The State of the Union is that “the government is closed.”

Nancy said it.

So Donald had to stop having a tantrum he couldn’t win finally.  Once you know the limits of what a tantrum will get you they are more likely to use some caution when you approach with someone who makes you wear yourself out with a consistent  “No”.  All of us need to hear that occasionally.

It’s Our Fault.

The 2020 Elections can’t come fast enough for me. In my book, any person who voted for Trump is responsible for this shutdown. Every person who didn’t vote and went for the con is responsible.  Here’s another reason why our next President has to be a woman. One qualification we need to REQUEST is, ” Do you have any experience working with kids who have tantrums in public? Did you read the “Mommy Chronicles”? How did you handle a petulant child? Is the kid still alive to back up that claim?  Can we please get back to some sanity? It is time for us to stop tolerating Donald’s behavior.

 

We’ve Got Work to Do

A Trip to the Ladies Room is in order.

Retreat! But, just for a little while.

So Trump agrees to reopen the Government but, only for 3 weeks.  During this time Congress will continue the discussion on border security.  If they can’t reach an agreement, even though they already did last December, Donald said he would shut it down again.  And, this time he would declare a national emergency and bypass Congress. The man is insane, and everyone knows that. So what are they going to do to shut him down the next time?  We will have to see. He’ll always have a tantrum until he outgrows them. As the walls cave in on Donald, he’s going to have to save his energy for a round of battles.

It’s like that little boy in the restaurant. If Donald doesn’t get snatched up, he will continue to spoil all of our nights. Instead of disrupting people’s dinner he had to take responsibility for his action.  But, he’s not ready to let go just yet. The answer needs to be one that gives him “border security”. He may have to settle for repairs to the existing wall.   What do you know?  He’s doing what my Mother told us to do when we acted a damn fool. “Go to your room and don’t come out until I tell you to.”

In the meantime should we add our name to this list?

As of 2018, there are a total of 49 nations that have a dictator or authoritarian regime. Those include: