Every parent has at least one disastrous experience in a grocery store. Their toddler is grabbing items off the shelves, running away from them, , crying hysterically because they will not get the sprinkle frosting, etc. etc. etc. Every toddler feels the need at some point to embarass the crap out of ill fated parents. This article's purpose is to teach you some tips on how to diffuse the bomb. The shopping bomb.

I like to let my parents know that they are not alone. I too have had disastrous shopping experiences with my toddlers. Believe me... Been there, done that. You are not alone. You are not a bad parent. Your toddler is completely normal!

Now I want you to answer a few questions before you take your terrible two shopping with you. #1- When was the last time your toddler ate? #2- Has your toddler slept lately? #3- Is it your toddler's bed time? #4- Do you have a list so that you're in and out? #5- Is this your last stop of the day? Just in case you can't figure out the relevance of these questions, I shall explain to you some of the reasons that tantrums in stores are unavoidable and some things you can do to diffuse the bomb before it explodes.

If your toddler is hungry, chances are they will be crabby as well. Try bringing a snack with you. If their mouth is full, there is no more room for screams. If your toddler did not take a nap and it is around that time of day, they will probably be acting up because they are tired. Try to arrange the shopping trip for after nap time, when they are well rested so they do not become your worst nightmare. If it is your toddler's bedtime, there is no need for me to explain why you shouldn't take your toddler shopping. Leave them at home!

If you have a list of errands and items you need to take care of, then good for you. You will be in and out without giving your toddler a chance to hold their breath until they faint. If this is your last stop of the day with baby face in tow, then I see a tantrum in your not so distant future. This is because you have probably promised them the world of your errands and they see you as a liar now. Make your errands short and few and far between. You and your toddler will thank you for it.

So we've taken care of what to do to stop the tantrums in their tracks. But a lot of you will have thought that you were super humans and did not follow my advice. That's okay. Just next time be sure to trust the expert before you do something you may regret. So here we are. Hungry, tired, and fed up little munchkin. They are on the floor with the tub of sprinkle frosting, screaming like you just killed their kitty cat. What to do now? Your first thought would be, "Ok. Never mind. We're going home before I start beating this kid in front of all these curious bystanders!" No! Don't give up! Well, go ahead and give up but give these tips a try first.

Tip # 1: Walk away (not too far). Ignore them. I'm not saying this is 100% effective, but it's worth a shot. Depending on the mood, your toddler could be more upset at the fact that you're not being reeled into their tantrum then the original reason they were upset.

Tip # 2: Take a break. Bring your toddler to the car for a breather. Give them a minute to cool it and then explain to them why you're in the car and what you want from them when you go back in the store. If this doesn't help, then at least you can start up your car and go home.

Tip # 3: I am a shameful, shameful parent sometimes. This may not be the most morally ethical thing to do, but there is always bribery. I sometimes use it when I'm running out of ideas, and what we are doing absolutely needs to get done. Tell them if they are good, you will take them to a park (or buy them a sucker). Like I said, not the best but sometimes works in the most desperate of shopping trips.

Well there you have it! I wish you the best in your future shopping endeavors and I hope that my tips will help you along the way. Peace.