Even if you don’t have children of your own, you may have witnessed more than once how some child in a store persistently tugged at his mother’s sleeve and asked in a drawn-out voice: “Come on, buy it, buy it!”
As a rule, children ask to buy a chocolate bar or another treat or beg to buy another toy.
The parents, trying to stay calm, explain that they don’t have much money with them, that they have the same car or doll at home, that the baby has already received a mountain of gifts for New Year’s or his birthday, etc.
But children are not so easy to win over. When all arguments have been exhausted, they often resort to the last one: "Mom, you only buy everything for yourself, but nothing for me!"
As a rule, such words become the last straw for a patient adult.
After this, parents often start yelling and reproaching their offspring for ingratitude.
But if you look at their purchases, it becomes clear why kids think this way: the conveyor belt at the supermarket usually contains things like groceries, cleaning supplies, household chemicals or cosmetics, a couple of magazines...
In general, everything is necessary and useful, but not from the child’s point of view.
What should you do in such a situation? Give in and buy a toy? Or not buy anything for yourself at all?
Neither the first nor the second decision can be called correct.
The first thing you should do is understand that the child is, first of all, exhausted from being in the store for a long time, and is being capricious right now precisely because of fatigue.
Once you understand this, it will be easier for you to be patient with endless requests.
Next time you go shopping, try to involve your child in the process.
Discuss what you need and why, explain the importance of each purchase, whether each item needs to be purchased today or can wait.
This will help your child understand that everything you take is important not only for you, but for him as well.
You may have to give up some things for yourself - like that women's magazine - but your peace of mind will be worth it.
Author: Elena Shimanovskaya