The One Hour Tantrum

Is it possible for a three year old to have a tantrum for an hour?

The answer is yes. By the way, we were parked outside the school. I LOVE PUBLIC TANTRUMS!!!

Here is the story. Z did not want to get out of the truck to go get his big brother. Unfortunately for him, he had no choice. I didn’t want to drag him, so I put him in the stroller so I could physically handle the situation. He screamed all the way to the school stating that HE WANTED OUT!!! I told him before we got to the school, that I would let him out AFTER he stopped the tantrum.

Well, 62 minutes later he stopped. Yes, 62 minutes. One hour and two minutes. I did not scream at him once or put my hands on him. Trust me, I wanted to scream at the top of my lungs and strangle him. But I knew that would not help.

So my three other children, and another little man I take home from school, sat in the truck
and waited. And waited. And waited.

I got the stares and the “poor thing” from some of the moms walking by. Of course I was embarrassed. But this was not about me. This was about him. He needed to understand that I was ALWAYS going to win these wars. ALWAYS. He needed to understand how to calm himself down when he has gotten himself in such a whirlwind tantrum.

So he did. 62 minutes later. He stopped screaming and kicking. He apologized to me in such a sweet little voice. It was so sweet that it unnerved me. As if he had no recollection of what just happened.

Luckily my great friend Mrs. P drove by. I talked to her for a few minutes. I told her I was so wound up that I just wanted to cry. She then told me she was proud of me. She was proud because I didn’t scream, put a hand on him, and let him get away with it.

That meant so much to me. Thank you Mrs. P, thank you.

So three out of four are in bed now. Thank God. I told them I needed time alone this afternoon.

I need to completly forgive him for what just happened. The “mean and impatient” mommy wants to punish him all day. I want to send him to his room all day, no outside time and no TV time. But that would only make me feel better. The “rational” mommy knows that sitting in the hot sun, locked in the stroller for 62 minutes was enough punishment for him.

So I will take this hour to calm down, eat lunch, and forgive.

I must say, this holds true....

Muthahood Aint For Sissies

Muthahood Ain’t For Sissies | Motherhood Ain’t For Sissies

Comments

[Kelly Campos]

I know this is an old post, but this is SUCH an inspiration!

It is SO hard when they test you like that. You're thinking about what would make it easier on everyone else. What people are thinking, and where you need to be and what needs to be done *instead* of dealing with the situation at hand.

I am HUMBLED by the strength it took to withstand all those voices and deal with the truly important thing of the moment.