Toddler Troubles?

There isn’t a parent among us who hasn’t weathered the dreaded temper tantrum. And while friends and strangers alike might compliment us on our adorable little cherubs when they are at their most angelic, we have seen their darker sides.

When toddlers throw tantrums at home, it’s bad enough – how often does the noise level start to ramp up just as you’re making that important phone call to the school or doctor’s office? But tantrums in public places inspire anxiety in even the most stoic of parents.

While many of our fellow shoppers at the grocery store or Target will be sympathetic to our plight, we’ve all run across those who are not. There are plenty of people out there who either don’t remember or haven’t experienced the nightmare of a stubborn 2-year-old who wants his way, and it’s these unsympathetic characters whom we’d most like to avoid when the kicking and screaming begins.

And of course, there are always well-intentioned strangers who want to offer advice without knowing anything about your child’s quirky little personality. It can be a big challenge to try to nod politely and express appreciation for their well-intentioned remarks while hauling a recalcitrant toddler through the checkout line and out to the car.

Spending an afternoon running errands without your toddler in tow might be exactly what you need. Book a sitter for a block of several hours, and head out to the bank, , dry cleaner, and every other “quick” little errand that would suddenly turn into a major headache if you had to manage your little one. Imagine, you might even be able to grab a hot cup of coffee without worrying about your toddler running off while you’re trying to dig the right change out of your purse. Or schedule a treat for yourself in the middle of all that running around. It’s a lot easier to try on a fabulous dress at that cute little boutique when you aren’t worrying about your small companion hiding under the racks or peeking under other shoppers’ dressing room doors.

Picture yourself returning home with all of your weekly errands accomplished and your child happily engaged with a babysitter, from a local Boston babysitting service. That sitter could buy you an invaluable chunk of serenity in an otherwise hectic week.