I never would have believed that going through the terrible 3's would be as bad as they joke about. My first child was so easy. Could it really be that bad?
Anastasia has found her voice, and normally it's in the form of the word NO. NO, I don't want to eat dinner. NO, I am not getting out of the car. NO, I will not get off the computer. NO, NO, NO.
Then, there's this new development we've been subjected to. The TANTRUM. It's the moment when she has been asked, very reasonably I believe, to do something...Anything.
"Ana, lets pick up your toys before we have lunch."
The shakes start, the stress expands, her little face scrunches up, her arms start spazing, and suddenly, we're experiencing a full blown 3.5 on the Riktor scale tantrum. Tearless crying combined with slumping on the floor, and there I am, watching her, wondering what in the hell has happened to my little girl.
As many helpless parents have figured out, there really isn't a great way to deal with this. Do you ignore it? Stepping over and ignoring the child works, but grates on the parents last nerve. Should I yank her into my lap and dole out the spanking she's definitely asking for? Not a good idea in public. Is there a way to curb this acting out, without loosing your temper, pulling your hair out and looking like the parent you never wanted to be?
So far, the only thing I have come up with is picking her up and putting her in her room until she is finished. Then when she's quiet, she's allowed to come out, as long as she's going to act like a little girl, and not throw a tantrum. I don't think that I am rewarding this behavior in doing so. She still will not be able to get whatever it is she was wanting, and if she throws a tantrum again, she can do so in her room.
It's really weird, because Alexandra was not like this in the slightest. I remember the separation anxiety, but never the tantrums. They really weren't kidding when they said that no two children will ever be alike.
Anyone else have good ideas? Feel free to post them back to me. I do like my hair. :)
