The Quick Solution to Tantrums came purely by accident. I would love to say I planned and was prepared for it, but I wasn’t. My daughter’s first public meltdown left me scorched, but victorious.
Creating the Tantrum
The first time you bribed your toddler with sweets to head off a tantrum, you handed her a little of your power. She probably didn’t understand she had control over you. At that age she understood screaming and thrashing produced a treat. It might have seemed like a lot of effort, but, hey…it worked. She had discovered your first button…and how to push it.
Of course, for you, going on your third year of sleep-interrupted, household-juggling, babybag-carrying Mommydom, it just meant a moment of blessed relief. You had quieted down your child successfully, and controlled the situation. Or, had you?
For many moms, although this strategy works every time, the child never learns how to handle the word, “No.” Eventually, the lack of that one coping skill produces all those tween-age emotion-laden battles about homework, skirt length, necklines, curfews, junk food, appropriate movies/books, etc. Tears streaming and voice wailing are further evidence that “No” is confusing and upsetting to her when her expectation is that the mom should be appeasing her.
Our First Public Tantrum
I remember when my daughter threw her first public tantrum. We were at Sears, and I had promised her we would stop at the toy section before we left. However, we ran out of time. I tried to explain the situation to her, but her three-year-old self was not having it.
Right before we reached the store entrance, she flung herself backwards into a circular clothing rack, screaming and kicking her feet. The women’s clothing display completely hid her body. All you could see were her little legs thrashing in the aisle.
As she carried on, a steady stream of people passed in and out the doors, but there was nothing I could do. I couldn’t retrieve her without getting kicked in the face.
I stood there, horrifically embarrassed, clutching my hands, heart thumping, hot and perspiring, and wondering what to do.
An elderly woman patted me on the shoulder. “Don’t you give in, dear. You’re doing the right thing. She’ll tire herself out.” She winked. “And you’ll thank your lucky stars later.”
“Th—thank you,” I called after her.
To my immense relief, my cherub, face still hidden by the clothes, seemed to be pausing for a breath. “Are you done?” I asked.
“NO!” Her shriek rattled my teeth as she launched into Round Two.
Oh no. I should have grabbed her while she was catching her breath. Now, it was too late. The only part I could reach was those flailing legs.
She paused again.
I could hear her panting somewhere in
the midst of the women’s dresses. “Are you done yet?”
“No!” More kicking and more screaming. More people staring. But strangely, I was feeling calmer. Suddenly, I knew how this was going to play out. My baby girl had a lot of energy, but even she was going to wear down eventually. I was getting used to feeling embarrassed, so I hung in there, and outwaited her. I was the one in control.
She paused to catch her breath again.
“Are you done yet?” Now, I was grinning and rolling my eyes at the passersby, who responded with expressions of sympathy.
“No.” This one was more like a grunt. She launched into a less enthusiastic Round 4, which ended after a few moments.
“Are you done yet?”
Pant. Pant. “Yes.”
“Okay. Let’s go home.” I helped her out of the clothes rack, took her hand and triumphantly sailed out of the store.
Lesson Learned
My darling girl learned a valuable lesson that day, and it was twofold:
- A tantrum doesn’t produce diddlysquat.
- And tantrums are too exhausting!
To this day, I thank my lucky stars I wasn’t able to pluck her out of that clothes rack before she stopped screaming. If I had, I would have tried to bribe her to prevent my own embarrassment, anything to make her be quiet. I never would’ve learned my valuable lesson—Don’t give into tantrums.
She never tried it again. I guess it wasn’t worth the effort.
The Quick Solution to Tantrums? Ignore them and they will have no power.
This is an excerpt from my upcoming book on how to address the strain in your relationship with your teenage daughter. If you would like to be notified when it’s out, sign up for my newsletter.
Check out my other articles for more ideas on parenting and handling your student’s foray back to school. If your mother-daughter relationship has been strained, take off for a weekend-getaway, just the two of you, at the Mother/Daughter Relationship Boot Camp Sept. 22-24, 2017. Please share with anyone you know who wants to get back the close and loving relationship they used to enjoy with their daughter.
Until next time…
