by Amy Denney

Created on: October 22, 2007

Anyone who is a mother or has had a mother knows "The Look". "The Look" can definitely be a useful tool. It does take practice to hone the perfect "Look". But, anyone that has children, especially more than one and has to take them out in public, can be confident there will be plenty of opportunities to practice.

Children are smart little creatures and learn quickly the exact moment when it will be the most embarrassing to act out. The grocery store is a great example. When children are infants and they are sitting quietly in the shopping basket, don't be fooled. They are actually watching and learning. It is so cute when the innocent baby smiles at other children as they pass in the isles. Think again. It is a signal to the other child that they are acknowledging the other child's expertise in driving it's mother crazy. The sweet baby is really thinking, "I like what the kid was doing. When I start walking, I am going to try that. I am going to climb up on the top shelf, stand up and yell at the top of my lungs to my brother,"You Can't Get Me!" It will be funny watching my mother hyperventilate while running up and down the isle trying to figure out how to get me down. She looks pretty when her face is completely red."

Of course, the first child always gets away with the most. The new parent tries all the options. Such as, talking and using logic, threatening time-out, bribery and so on. The more children, the more you learn none of this usually works. "The Look" has a certain mystery to it. If done correctly, the child is not sure of the consequences that will be forthcoming if "The Look" is ignored; but, since they are smart little creatures, they soon learn it is better not to find out.

If "The Look" is applied properly, there is no reason for words.

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