Temper Tantrums

Every parent has endured a temper tantrum at some point!   If anyone tells you that they haven't they are lying.  Rarely, they happen in the privacy of your own home.  99% of the time they happen in a public setting - in a grocery store, in a restaurant, at the mall, at the park.  And when they happen, you immediately forget that everyone around has had the same experience and you just want to crawl in a hole and hide.  I am not going to lie, there have been times that I have looked at my kids and said "Where are your parents?"

"Mommy" would usually do hers at home. But they would go on and on, it was actually more of a stubborn insistence thing than a tantrum.  "Calvin" had his worst one at a Senior Citizens condominium complex in Florida.  He shrieked at the top of his lungs until his sister returned his toy boat to him.  Then he wanted the pennies she was diving for,  Then he wanted a float that she was laying on.  The lesson there was don't feed the bear, he just wants more.

"Mini Me" was usually pretty quite and laid back, but when she decided to blow it was quick.  One of her worst events was slamming a door and forgetting to remove her fingers in time.  That one ended up in a trip to the emergency room for stitches.  Even as adults, "Pook" has the ability to have her shrieking in less than thirty seconds.  I think it is some sort of record. "The Blonde" has silent tantrums.  She simply refuses to talk.  That is no punishment to us, but okay, if that is how she chooses to handle it.  It works for her until her brothers verbally torture her into submission.

"Pook" and "The Surprise" were the kings of tantrums in our house.  I actually timed them once.  "Pook" one with an all out on the floor, screaming and kicking tantrum for thirty full minutes.  I could not believe he still had a voice.  There tantrums were usually public.  "Pook's" worst was in a psychologists office where I was taking two of the kids who had been bullied.  The Psychologist actually asked me to leave with him!  Talk about being embarrassed.  Interestingly, this same Psychologist's partner had previously instructed me to ignore the tantrums no matter what.  I really cannot remember the worst one for "The Surprise's" worst tantrum.  I was too exhausted by then. (the youngest actually does get away with more, but only because the older siblings have worn you out!)

Somewhere along the line, I either developed or read about a safe and simple solution to dealing with tantrums. Torture, imprisonment and death are legally frowned upon, but it does give new meaning to why some animals eat their young.  At any rate, the solution (to be done at home) is to get a glass of water and without announcement simply throw it in the child's face.  It is harmless, and it stops them instantly.  Once they are done sputtering, you simply and unemotionally hand them a towel and instruct them to clean up the water.  I ran it past a counselor who thought it was brilliant.  I only had to do it twice with the two youngest and the tantrums stopped!  Not bad, huh!? 

Although every once in a while, I can't help but think a few days in jail could be a nice rest.  No cleaning, no kids and meals prepared and delivered.  Think about it!