Image: Shutterstock
Kids. The ones who bring sunshine into our lives. Their innocent smile and naughtiness can take away an entire day’s fatigue. While kids may be a source of much joy and cheer for parents, they can sometimes embarrass them too. And one nightmare that every parent dreads is a public meltdown of their children. From the very moment kids start making sense of communication, parents put in a lot of effort to discipline them. It is to ensure that they are at their best behavior at all times. Yet, all of us have been in a position, at some point or the other, when our kids have driven us over the edge with their stubborn behavior. Be it that particular toy, their favorite flavor of ice cream, or simply a bunch of chocolates – once kids set their eyes on something, they’ll simply not budge until they’ve had it. It is an experience that is universal to all of us – be it commoners or royalty!
Image: Shutterstock
So, how does a royalty like Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, handle such situations? Mother to three lovely kids – Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and recently Prince Louis – Kate does a good job of juggling her royal duties with her motherly responsibilities. With their every public appearance being under the constant glare of the paparazzi, it is no mean a task to keep her composure together at all times. The same applies to her kids as well. However, at a recent event, Kate was caught on camera giving a stern look to Prince George to get him to fall in line. While at most public appearances, the Duchess ensures that her kids are at the best of their behaviors, this one was a few of those exceptions. It was pretty obvious from the look on her face that she was pretty annoyed with Prince George. It was also clear that the Duchess had already tried different ways to sort it out. And only when nothing had worked, she knelt down to get a little closer to him. Then, with a calm smile but with rage in her eyes, she gave him the sternest of looks. Though it is unclear what she said exactly (which we would love to know, by the way), her expression spoke volumes.
Image: Facebook: nicholessmith
Aptly labeled “The Look”, this photograph of the Duchess of Cambridge soon became a subject of memes on the internet. While most of them couldn’t stop commenting about how much they related to “The Look”, many even came forward to share their own stories. In all, most of them observed gleefully how much they felt like a royalty themselves after seeing this photograph. It was a proof that even the royal families are not immune to toddler tantrums.
It’s easy to see why parents, especially mothers, could identify with the Duchess. If such a situation takes place at home, most of us try to explain and cajole our kids. But if kids get stubborn, some of us don’t mind getting a little stern in order to make them toe the line. However, if it happens in a public place, we are at a loss because none of the aforementioned tricks work. And the fact that everyone around is watching simply doesn’t help. With no other option left, all that parents can do is just give in to their demand. But, this does come at a price. Because we all know (including the kids) that once back home, they will be subjected to a little bit of reprimanding. And the best way to convey this to kids in public is to give them “The Look”. It simply conveys – “We are in public, don’t make me angry. Behave yourself or you know what’s waiting for you once we are back home!”. And behold! Kids throw in the towel.
Image: Shutterstock
So, have you been in such a situation lately? How did you handle it? Have you ever used “The Look” to your advantage? Do share with us and enlighten the rest of the tribe.
