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How to keep my kids calm when going through the drive-thru?!
I like to take my little twin boys out once a month. We end up going through a drive-thru somewhere and getting lunch or dinner and heading down to the playground or park area for a couple of hours. We always have such a nice time but I have a problem when we first start the adventure at the drive-thru! As soon as we are in the line at the speaker post both of my boys start going crazy. They start yelling and screaming and trying to get out of their seats. They say all sorts of things from greeting the person taking my order over and over and OVER again to demanding ice cream, cookies, toys, and other treats. It's so embarrassing and I'm sure the order-takers probably think I can't control my own kids in a drive-thru line!
How can I help them control their excitment so that I don't have to be embarrassed and things will actually go smoothly for once?
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You institute discipline, Christ.
Good behavior should always be a prerequesite to fun activities. Keep something bland and filling at home for emergency uses, and warn them the next time you go out that if they do not stay calm and control themselves that you'll go home and eat something boring.
When they act up, leave the drive through and go home. Cook whatever you had saved that's quick and easy for you and absolutely boring and normal for them. If they don't eat it, let them not eat it. Kids will get hungry enough to eat after a few hours.
You don't deny them food, but you don't let them dictate to you as a parent either. You set the terms and let them choose to make themselves suffer. If you don't waver, I guarantee the next time you tell them to be quiet, they will.
Children are smart. They can sniff out a weak will and willing indulgence like blood hounds. They will take every inch from you that you allow them to. Conversely, if they realize that there are no inches to be taken, they tend to fall a good bit more in line.
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You need to set down consequences. They're old enough to put 2 and 2 together. Simply distracting them isn't enough; this is a lack of cause and effect.
Why should they quiet down when you're going through the drive-thru? They get a reaction out of you and out of the cashiers as well, with no ill consequences.
You need to let your boys know that going through the drive-thru is a special treat, and that they need to behave like they deserve it. IF they sit still and IF they are quiet, they can have their treat (meal). If they are noisy, or if they try to get out of their seats, they don't get a treat because they haven't earned it. The moment they start acting up, you need to apologize to the person at the drive-thru and pull out of there without getting anything for the kids. They'll learn soon enough that they need to be quiet and calm.
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Kids are cute, and we love them but sometimes we need to learn when it's time to lay down the rules. Before you get to the drive thru you could let your boys know that they need to keep quiet so Mom can order the food and that you can take the order if they are being really loud. Occupy them with some toys for the ride, Coloring books etc.
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