Running off...

So I'm REALLY having a hard time going anywhere with the boys out of the stroller but they are at the point where they will NOT stay in the stoller and heck...I can't keep them in there forever. Anyway, my one guys is super good about staying with me and holding my hand but my other guy darts away and just runs and runs as fast as he can. When I go get him to bring him back he throws a complete temper tantrum. Kicking, screaming, arching of the back....it's quite the scene and embaressing. Anyway, how do I teach him to stay with mommy and not dart away whether we are at the mall, the park or in the yard? It's funny too because when we are at home all he wants all day long is to be right on top of me but the second we step out of the door he runs as far away from me as he can.

 

My girls always had a choice, stay with me and hold my hand, or I would carry them/put them back in the stroller. Sometimes that meant in a football hold back to the car because they were protesting (loudly!!) and we had to leave where we were. Other times I would bring the stroller and threaten to put them back in. If they didn't listen, in they went, buckle and all. Again, lots of loud protests. Eventually, they began to understood I meant business.

 

Yep, we had some power struggles where I litterally had to lift said child up and hauled her/him out to the car, more than likely kicking and screaming. Well, screaming at least. It is a matter of safety.. I gave them no choice. Just be consistant!

 

Like the pp lots of threats. You can hold my hand and stay with me or you go in the cart/stroller. And if they don't do it - I put them in every.single.time. Even if it is a pain for me. They know I mean what I say. Threating to run off and leave them has worked really well, too. Instead of chasing him down I just wave and say bye bye and start in the opposite direction with his brother. He comes running. I know. I am mean, mean mom.

 

At that age, mine didn't know they could get out of the stroller and walk. We would walk in the neighborhood, but in the malls, they were only in the stroller.

 

My two still are in strollers. If they scream and pitch a fit going into the stroller? They scream and pitch a fit. Oh well. I'm not chasing two of them around.

 

QUOTE(becasquared @ Jun 2 2009, 05:32 PM) [snapback]1338523[/snapback]
My two still are in strollers. If they scream and pitch a fit going into the stroller? They scream and pitch a fit. Oh well. I'm not chasing two of them around.


Exactly. I don't like being isolated in the house all day long, and that was my alternative. They had a really hard time for awhile, and I actually ended up selling our old strollers and getting a new one - it's a BOB, used from Craigslist and the best purchase I have ever made. It is more comfortable and more suited to their toddler bodies. They complain less now (although Jackson still pitches a respectable fit). I just ignore it and hope for the best.

 

I agree with pp's. Consistency and consequences. It is not acceptable for him to run away from you so if he does in the stroller he goes. Lots of praise for brother who held hands nicely and gets to walk too. Peer pressue might work. GL and hang in there.

 

QUOTE(twinboys07 @ Jun 3 2009, 12:54 AM) [snapback]1338851[/snapback]
Exactly. I don't like being isolated in the house all day long, and that was my alternative. They had a really hard time for awhile, and I actually ended up selling our old strollers and getting a new one - it's a BOB, used from Craigslist and the best purchase I have ever made. It is more comfortable and more suited to their toddler bodies. They complain less now (although Jackson still pitches a respectable fit). I just ignore it and hope for the best.



Funny, we have 4 strollers and the one that I like the best is a 10 year old (literally _ I found the date sticker on the bottom) jogging stroller. When we move, I'm giving up all of them but the jogger.