Every parent knows the agony of a monster temper tantrum in public. There’s nothing else quite like it. We had one a few weeks ago and it was brutal, we’re still reeling from it now! Please share your tips for handling them because boy oh boy I need them! All shares and likes much appreciated as usual.
Picture this scene. Soft sands. Warm sun. The sounds of the tide. The gurgling of a baby. The odd squeal of joy from roaming children while parents gaze on happily. We were having a lovely stroll along the beach. It might not have been the Caribbean, but it had been a warm spring day, and everyone had enjoyed making sand castles and running in and out of the sea. We were getting hungry and it was time to go. Suddenly the little person, whose footsteps I had worshipped for two and a half years now, was facedown in the sand kicking and screeching “NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO!” She was coughing, choking and screaming. She was Hulk in pink spotty raincoat. It was deafening. And it was messy – sand and toddlers don’t mix well at the best of times. It was tantrum time. Public tantrum time! After a moment laughing at how out of control she was, I realised she wasn’t coming back from this one and my warm happy face turned to a prickly, sweaty, ashamed one very quickly. The smiling faces on the beach became judgemental, and myriad. The incoming tide became an encroaching danger. There was sand everywhere, her eyes and mouth, it was all plastered to the snot and tears that covered that angry little face. I tried cuddling and talking her down but there was no coming back. In the end, Husband picked her up, threw her over his shoulder and marched her back to the car. She carried on sobbing asking for Mummy. When she had me, she wanted Daddy. It was impossible. She was impossible.
Hulk on the beach
It brought some things to the surface for Husband and I as we realised there are more differences in our parenting approach than we thought. Our morals are very similar so on the big things, we are consistent. But on some of the smaller rebellions, Husband is quite strong, harsher than I am. I’m all about picking my battles, probably because this is what gets me through the day with her. No one likes conflict, least of a whole day of it, so I will only go into battle if I really have to. When a row is coming, I opt for distraction or conversation. If the heat is really on, I give her options accompanied by the Mum look – you know the one, head cocked to the side, eyebrows raised, mouth pursed like a cats bum, ear poised, waiting for the right answer. Outside it says “don’t fuck with me little one”. Inside it says “when the hell did I become my mother?!”. We have staring contests. Recently she has learnt to turn on the tears. Come on Girly no1! I’m a girl too! At least be creative! Normally these actions are enough to avert the looming crisis. But I still don’t want to be doing this all day every day…I’ll get wrinkles. Whilst it might annoy me that she continually opens and closes the kitchen drawer where her cups are kept risking trapping her fingers, it’s not worth a fight. Hanging off the door handle in the bathroom about to smash her head on the tiled floor, worth a fight. Wearing crocs with tights, not worth a fight (I never thought I would say this, crocs full stop would have been enough for a fight pre-children!). Attempting to poke her sisters eyes out with her thumbs, totally worth a fight.
Tantrums are part of the whole journey, and some parents have to deal with them far more often than we do. They’re embarrassing, gruelling even, but I’m told they pass. I haven’t seen a teenager being carried back to their parents’ car like she was that day so it must be true. I’m well aware that there will be a million more battles along the way, and they will take many forms. I’m not looking forward to any of them but it’s all part of the parenting deal, it’s hard. Even harder when you don’t always agree with your partner. Even harder still when you think about the psychological ramifications of how you handle things. Unbearable! But surmountable. Husband and I agree that all we can do is talk. And do what feels right in the moment. We have to pick the things that really matter and hope that the right things rub off on the little people. So next time you see a Mum head butting her steering wheel with a screaming toddler in the back of her car, don’t stare, don’t gawp or judge, assume she’s just dragged her choking child off the beach and keep on walking.
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Crocs and tights aren’t worth the fights
It really annoys me when people stare as though it’s the parent’s fault. I hate being by myself when my two kick off as it’s always made worse by the stares! Thanks so much for sharing with #Blogstravaganza xx
It’s so frustrating! Thanks for having me xx
It is so tough isn’t it. Cygnet has started telling me off and waggling his finger at me. I have never waved my finger at him so I have no idea where he got this from. I called him a lazy boots the other day. He shouted, waving his finger “I am not a lazy-boots, ever”. I just had to laugh. Pen x #blogstravaganza
Haha! No1 does exactly the same, it makes me laugh a lot! x
My 2 year old has some great tantrums, he has really ramped them up a level in recent months, they drive me crazy, i’m not sure I always deal with them too well, and probably add fuel to the fire sometimes. Mostly you just have to ride them out, I have a 5 year old too, and they definitely get better. You are definitely not alone in this one. #Blogstravaganza
Thank you. Good to hear there’s an end in sight! I always find watching an episode of Supernanny helps! xx
I deal with monster tanties all the time. The screaming and wailing of legs. Mumma I pray for you.. Fingers crossed this stage passes soon…
Fingers crossed for us both! xx
I haven’t had to deal with a monster tantrum yet, but reading your post has made me determined to be prepared for when such a meltdown happens. I still don’t know whether I would be able to handle it, but at least I know I won’t be alone out there knowing there are many others dealing with the same situation! Thank you #blogstravaganza
You will! I always find watching an episode of Supernanny helps! xx
I’m trying really hard at the moment to try and fight away my embarrassment when Eric is struggling- and see it through his eyes, that he is filled with emotions that are too hard for him to handle. I don’t want him to think he should be ashamed of feeling that way; I have been embarrassed before in public it’s so hard not to think of yourself and what others think of you/the moment/the tantrum, but it’s something I really want to work on. Tantrums are hard work, especially trying to deal with them but I spoke to a good friend who runs a mental health and child behaviour service called understanding kids, and did a little workshop all about understanding toddlers and their tantrums, and it really opened my eyes! Now I try my hardest to first, before I act out- understand how HE is feeling. Sometimes, I feel like having a tantrum myself; but I can control myself… thing is, little ones can’t. very interesting! xxx #blogstravaganza
That’s great advice, my Therapist friend says the same. She also says lots of love afterwards. It’a horrible to see them get in such a state xx
We are in exactly the same boat lovely. I have a 2 year old and a 6 week old and they are both challenging in different ways but the newborn is a dream in comparison to the 2 yr old. Toddler is enamoured with his little brother but still struggling with the fact my attention isn’t just his anymore. Key that with all the development he is having and I can feel a proper tantrum brewing. Wish me luck! Xxx #blogstravaganza
Congratulations on the new one! Your gap is very similar to mine. I hope Toddler handles it ok, we go in and out of jealous phases. The tantrums only really started once no2 arrived, she was an angel before that! Best of luck to you all xxx
I feel your pain! My little girl wasn’t too bad when she was 2, but my god since turning 3 she has become rather challenging shall we say. I’ve never seen mood swings like it (although my mum says I was exactly the same, so I guess it’s just karma!). I find it best just to ignore her, or if we’re in public I walk off then hide while secretly watching her, she soon stops and comes running. If this doesn’t work then I find bribery with chocolate usually does the trick. Yes I’m well aware that that’s breaking every parenting rule book in the world but I couldn’t give a single f**k…it’s all about survival at the moment! #blogstravaganza
Haha! Gosh I hope we don’t have another 18 months of this! They’re hard work aren’t they?! Little lovelies! xx
I can so relate to this, our little miss is 2 1/2 and the tantrums are immense. I also relate as hubs is harsher than I am as like you I have to pick my battles with her. He obsesses about her picking her nose but I let it go as I just do t have the energy to fight that! I wish I had advice for tantrums, we use the naughty spot technique which works pretty well for some things but doesn’t stop the tantrums. I can say though that with an almost 5 yr old top that the tantrums don’t stay forever. Though having said that my Monkey was never quite as loud as his little sister is! Xx good luck xx
It’s comforting to hear someone else say they experience it too. I can totally live with nose picking…I would much rather pick her up on the laying-flat-on-top-of-her-baby-sister!! xx