Lesson #20
Giving into a tantrum doesn't solve anything
None of my kids have ever been huge on throwing tantrums. Historically, mini meltdowns will often resolve themselves with a little distraction. But there are certainly times when I have witnessed major fits from each of my kiddos.
Yesterday, while attending a picnic at our kids' school, Zoey really fell apart. The staff was doing a raffle drawing for a number of small prizes. Kids could put there tickets into bags representing individual prizes. With each prize Zoey had chosen for her raffle tickets, another child's name was drawn. The first one was pretty devastating as it was a "Frozen" puzzle. By the time we got to the Barbie, she was pretty much inconsolable. The magnitude of this tantrum was on a level I had never seen from Zoey. There were tears, telling and even some breathing patterns I might liken to hyperventilating! It was pretty impressive. A few parents joked about making a trip to target to make up for the loss but I knew that was not the answer. Zoey was just going to have to deal with it.
Fortunately, the picnic was winding down and we got to make a move for the car. She eventually got over it and we were all able to move on. As uncomfortable and unenjoyable as it was, I am happy that we didn't give in and try to buy her happiness with a replacement.
The other positive thing that came out of this was witnessing how sweet Maxwell was to his sister. He won two prizes...a monster truck and spiderman bubble bath. He offered them each to her in an attempt to make her feel that she had won something.
Giving into a tantrum doesn't solve anything
None of my kids have ever been huge on throwing tantrums. Historically, mini meltdowns will often resolve themselves with a little distraction. But there are certainly times when I have witnessed major fits from each of my kiddos.
Yesterday, while attending a picnic at our kids' school, Zoey really fell apart. The staff was doing a raffle drawing for a number of small prizes. Kids could put there tickets into bags representing individual prizes. With each prize Zoey had chosen for her raffle tickets, another child's name was drawn. The first one was pretty devastating as it was a "Frozen" puzzle. By the time we got to the Barbie, she was pretty much inconsolable. The magnitude of this tantrum was on a level I had never seen from Zoey. There were tears, telling and even some breathing patterns I might liken to hyperventilating! It was pretty impressive. A few parents joked about making a trip to target to make up for the loss but I knew that was not the answer. Zoey was just going to have to deal with it.
Fortunately, the picnic was winding down and we got to make a move for the car. She eventually got over it and we were all able to move on. As uncomfortable and unenjoyable as it was, I am happy that we didn't give in and try to buy her happiness with a replacement.
The other positive thing that came out of this was witnessing how sweet Maxwell was to his sister. He won two prizes...a monster truck and spiderman bubble bath. He offered them each to her in an attempt to make her feel that she had won something.
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