Meltdowns

I hate thinking that this blog will be a forum for airing out every little mis-step that Kole makes or grinding an ax each time he starts wearing on his parents’ nerves. But then, it should also be a little more realistic of the parenting experience than to just sing his praises for every little accomplishment. That being said ... our little bundle of joy, our precious gift from God, is beginning to show the first signs of all-out toddler melt-downs. If something isn’t going his way, and especially if something is taken from him, there’s now about a 1-in-5 chance that result will be an ear-piercing scream and the most horrified face you’ve ever seen. Yesterday he got to playing with cups - like the souvenir cups you get at sports venue, I have tons of them - and he’s running around with one or two putting things in them. Really a couple of those are assigned to the bath tub for baths, and some others I actually still use. Well, he was playing with one that is still in current kitchen use. All I wanted to do was to trade out one of those cups with one of his bath tub cups. I grabbed his and offered another, doing so with a pleasant demeanor in the spirit of sharing. The cup was no more a quarter-inch out of his hand before he clinched both fists, face turned beat red, and began a snarling cry. Within 10 seconds his eyes were welled with tears. There was something sadly pathetic about it, and oddly amusing. Such instant hysteria. He wanted no part of the cup I was offering him. Kathy and I agreed upon the first tantrum we saw a few days earlier that maybe we introduce the prospect of having things taken and not given back - in preparation for things that will surely come with other kids. Stick with it, don’t hand him the object right back just to shut him up. He needs to learn - sometimes you don’t get everything you want. It’s a tough lesson so far. But it’s just so sporadic and random. Most times you can take something and he doesn’t care. But, we are now definitely seeing more tears from what can best be described as emotional trauma, not so much anything physical.