Point is, babies/toddlers/kids/teens/even adults (why won't it end?? ) are going to have a meltdown at some point.  As much as I would love to say it's only going to ever be in the confines of your own home, chances are it's gonna be in the middle seat of a packed transatlantic flight with Karen sitting next to, behind, and in front of you.

So what can you do?

Here's how to keep it together when your kid has a meltdown in public:

1. Ignore it.

Easier said than done, I get it, but I mean ALL OF IT: your kid, Karen, the people you think are watching (they probably aren't looking at you in the way you think they are - 9/10 it's a look of "we've all been there") just ignore it.  For toddler age +, they will feed off the attention and run with it like Forrest Gump out of the freaking stadium. Ignore.

Babies are slightly different because this will depend on your parenting tactics for those early days, so I'm going to leave that one up to you.  If you want to pick them up, do it, if you think they should cry it out, do that.  This one is a bit more sensitive so I trust you as a mum. Do you.

As a human and person foremost, ignore it.  No one is judging you for your child crying.  The ones that are will suck the energy from you because they crave it and it gives them Karen-ondria energy.  It is legit the powerhouse of the cell for crappy people.  Don't waste your time or energy trying to appease them.

2. Understand feelings are triggered by your thoughts.

What are you thinking in the moment?  Break down each thought and address it one by one.

- Is my baby okay? 

The only important thought.  This one is over to you, mama.  You know best so act accordingly.

-Is s(he) being too loud?

Probably, but who the heck cares?  There's a pandemic on the go, bigger things to worry about.

- Is Karen judging me?

Karen is, but all the others are not.  They are looking at you like "thank f**k my kid is grown up, those early days are tough.  I'm so glad he's on the other side of the world at Harvard studying Molecular Biology to try to find a cure for Karen-ondria energy forces because Karen in 12D is being super judgy."

That's what they are thinking.  Move on.

These thoughts alone, compounded, are what is creating that flush in your cheeks, the sweat on your brow, and the fear in your heart.  They are just feelings from thoughts. If you tackle each thought, you tackle that icky-feeling.

I cannot stress how much you got this, mama.  One thought at a time. I'm in this with you.

Joanne

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