07 September 2010

A Case of the Fits

You know when you're at a store and you hear a kid screaming bloody murder? You think, 'why won't those parents get control over their kid?!'

Well, let's all try to hold our judgment next time, since that poor parent is probably me and the screaming child is The Daphinator. Dun dun dun.

This morning was a particularly trying visit to Target as I received quite a few glares from mothers pushing their perfectly angelic children passed my screaming one. Screaming as in arching her back, bright red face, screaming as loud as she can. It truly is a sight to behold.

At home when she throws a fit like that (usually 3-4 an hour) I let her scream and ignore her. The good thing about this is she knows her fits will get her no where, so they don't usually last too long. But I guess she thinks a fit is still always worth a try since the frequency of fits do not seem to lessen.

In a public place it's harder. I obviously can't leave her to scream and disrupt the shoppers who would like some peace and quiet. Plus I hate it when people glare at me. I usually just have to leave the store but then I feel like Daphne is getting what she wants, you know? My first inclination is to throw a fit right alongside her, but I'm thinking that would not be the best option.

We have to find the paper thin balance of letting her know it's OK to be upset sometimes, but that these out of control fits are not the acceptable way to express our frustrations.

I love Daphne's strong spirit, so hopefully we will be able to help her learn how to use it in the right ways.

David thinks we could harness her temper tantrum energy to power a small town.

It could work.

3 comments:

Kelley said...

She sounds like Auntie Erin. Well, maybe Erin doesn't throw fits now, I don't take her shopping much any more. I'm sorry you have to deal with this. I had to leave many a cart and store. It's embarrassing. Don't start bribing her, it will make it worse.

Anonymous said...

Somehow I knew my name would come up...

Drug her. ;)

GrandpaR said...

Remember Erin -- what goes around, comes around..... can't wait!