I Spy

The other day I was shopping at Target and stopped in an aisle where a mother of two seemed to be used to the unruly behavior of her children. The two kids, a boy and girl were arguing over a toy. As soon as the little girl snatched the toy from her brother, he proceeded to smack her. As she screamed, cried, and began a temper tantrum, she returned the gesture by clobbering him with the toy. When he started to cry the mother turned gave a rather nasty glare to her children then snatched the toy away and returned to what she was doing. Now I'm not a parent, but at this point I figured she would have consoled her children and attempted to get them to stop screaming and crying. You have two kids fighting over one toy...It gets taken away..well you do the math...As I grew more annoyed at the situation and walked to another aisle I was reminded of a game a friend of mine played with her sister and mother when they had to go shopping.

Listen up my lovely mommy friends!! I have a great tip of the day for you! 

Tip #124 I Spy

I think all of us can agree that at one point or another we have played I Spy. Well this is I Spy with a flare. 

Cut out coupons from your Sunday newspaper or grab some of the colorful inserts and pack them in your purse for your next trip to the grocery store. Should your child become agitated by something, or someone, grab coupons you are not using or the inserts you packed out of your purse and hand them to your child. Start a game of I Spy. Tell them the first one to spot five items gets a big prize. (Something from the dollar section or some candy, this is where you can get creative.) 

It keeps them busy and less likely to throw a temper-tantrum, and gives you a chance to possibly get in and out of the grocery store without a knockdown drag out fight.