So I thought it’d just be a chill day. My 3-year-old and I went to the mall, grabbed a snack, and strolled around until we passed the toy section. He saw this huge truck, and all I heard was, “Mom, I want it! Please!” I told him no, and boom—meltdown city. Screaming, kicking, crying, full-on floor performance. I tried keeping my voice calm, but the more I talked, the louder he got. People stared like I was the worst mom ever. Eventually, I picked him up, still screaming, and carried him out. I’m exhausted and honestly just wondering, does this get easier?
I feel this so much! My 3 year old pulled the same stunt last week at the grocery store. We were in the checkout line, and he saw some candy. I said no, and before I knew it, he was on the floor screaming, “You don’t love me!” 
I swear it felt like everyone in the store was watching. I think 3 is the new 2 when it comes to tantrums. It’s hard, but you’re not alone
I’ve been there, and one thing that worked for me was setting expectations before entering a store. I started saying things like, “We’re going to the mall to buy X, not toys today.” Sometimes giving my little one a small “job” to do, like holding the list or picking the bananas, helps too. They feel involved and less likely to focus on what they can’t have. It doesn’t work 100% of the time, but it has reduced meltdowns for us. Hang in there, you’re doing great
Wow, this hits home. I had an almost identical situation with my kid last month. We were at Target, and my daughter spotted this massive dollhouse. When I said no, she started screaming like I’d just taken away her birthday. She even rolled under one of the clothing racks! I was mortified. A kind older mom walked by and whispered, “It gets better, I promise.” That stuck with me. It didn’t feel like it in the moment, but now, a few weeks later, I’m starting to see small improvements
As a mom of three (youngest is now 4), I can tell you it absolutely gets better. What worked for us was practicing what I call “controlled choices.” For example, when we’d go shopping, I’d tell my kids they could pick one small item under $5 or earn a toy by helping with chores at home. It gave them a sense of control, and it helped avoid the meltdowns most of the time. The staring from strangers? That’s just part of the journey. They’ll always have opinions, but you know your child best
Thank you all for your responses. It’s comforting to know I’m not the only one going through this. I’m definitely going to try setting expectations before the next trip and maybe even using a reward system. It’s just hard in the moment to stay calm when all eyes feel like they’re on you. I’ll keep trying and hope this phase passes soon
We’ve been working on this with our little one, too. A child psychologist suggested using a visual schedule. It’s basically a little chart that shows what’s happening that day. For mall trips, we’d draw pictures of the car, the mall, and maybe a sticker at the end if they stayed calm. It’s not foolproof, but it’s cut down on tantrums a lot. And don’t stress about the stares, it’s a universal parent experience. You’re doing amazing
My kid once threw a tantrum so loud in a mall that security came over to check if everything was okay! I wanted to disappear. It’s not easy, and honestly, some days feel impossible. I think society puts so much pressure on parents to have perfectly behaved kids 24/7. The truth is, kids are human, they have big feelings and no idea how to handle them yet. You’re not alone in this, even though it can feel like it