Well today was the 1st time I’ve really had to face a toddler tantrum, now let me set the scene…
Remember the advert from the Vic’s spray where the little boy throws the tantrum as he’s not allowed to by some crisps? Well that was Kayleigh today, we were all happily going about the weekly shop about 8.30 this morning when she asked for some juice, so i told her we’d get some when we get to the till dependant on how well she behaved. Then she asked a little while later and got the same response, this is when the trouble started …
She started to cry, which is fine, i can cope with this. Then came the stiff body and the clenched fists, with her proceeding to go bright red in the face like she was a teapot boiling and finally came the screaming.
So by this point everyone was just staring at me and poor Ethan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry with her!
I decided the plan of action was just to leave it to fizzle out, so i plonked her in the trolley (after a bit of a fight) and carried on shopping with her screaming & grunting away. I’m sure by this point there was probably people tutting and thinking to themselves i can’t control my daughter, but i was in full control (or so i kept telling myself!)
What was my other options? Abandon the shopping and run out? Give in and let her have what she wants? Or be nicely nice so she gets her own way in the end?
So off we packed are shopping with her screaming and by this point Ethan had joined in for the fun of it, then i proceeded to our car and packed our shopping, with her still screaming and this carried on till we got home. So i put her straight to bed and let her scream it off, telling her in the process that it was not acceptable and i did not wish to see or speak to her until she had calmed down and apologised.
A full 50 minutes after the tantrum started it ended, with an apology.
Then our day continued with a lovely lunch out for just the 3 of us (and maybe i was a bit frazzled but i wasn’t prepared to admit that : ) )
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| My angelic daughter |