Every parent of a toddler has witnessed a loving little child turn from Jekyll to Hide without warning. Or was there a red flag that the monster inside your precious sweetie was about to rear its ugly head? I rarely have seen a tantrum that could not be predicted. Although every child is different there are some things that are consistent across the board.
Your child asks for a cookie and you comply. Suddenly your toddler is screaming and saying something about the cookie you just gave her. You investigate the cookie and see that it is broken. Toddlers reject things that do not compute with how it is supposed to be. A cookie is not supposed to be broken. The banana is not supposed to have peel left on it. The cup is not supposed to only be a third full. Since you just spent the first year or so responding to every cry and murmur she is expecting that you once again respond to her crying by fixing her problem. I never suggest giving in to crying. Once the crying starts you need to stand your ground and outlast the tantrum.
Determined to not miss any deals at the Super Saturday Sale, you look over every department in the store with child in tow. Just as you find the most flattering jeans for half price you hear what sounds to be a bullhorn. You realize it isn’t a bullhorn, it’s your toddler throwing another tantrum. Frustrated and annoyed you handle the situation impatiently and the bullhorn gets louder. You finally leave the store sacrificing the jeans for your dignity. On your way out you notice the clock reads 1:00 PM, an hour past lunch time and about an hour until nap time. Being a mom of a baby or toddler forces you to become an early bird. Toddlers see no value in foregoing a meal to save a dime on a pair of jeans. They work on instinct and when instinct says it’s time to eat no man, woman or child better get in the way. Hungry and tried are sure signs a tantrum is to follow so be aware of your toddler’s schedule while out on the town.
To be continued…