Tantrum Recovery in Progress

[nicolewi]

Anyone have good tantrum stories to help me feel better? 

Yesterday all four kids and I went to Kohl's. This was a bad idea, but there was no other option so we just pushed on. After all of them trying on clothes, I said, "Never again will I try to do this with all four of you!" We were finally on our way out when DD2 (age 4) saw a pink and purple Minnie Mouse jump rope. The darn thing would have been about $5 and I could have just gotten it, but it's the principle of the thing and also I didn't want all the other kids wanting to get something, so I said, "No, not today. Put it on your list for another time!" which usually works fine. But yesterday DD2 just lost her mind. Completely. She proceeded to have the most gigantic fit any of my kids have EVER had, in front of everyone at Kohl's. She SCREAMED at the top of her lungs, face covered with tears and snot, hit her siblings, shoved the cart and had other charming behaviors while the checkout lady INCREDIBLY SLOWLY scanned the items. It was horrible. Horrible. Some really nice lady kept talking to us and then helped us to our car, b/c DD2 did the collapse-while-you-are-holding-my-hand move and I had to give DD1 the big Kohl's bag and have her hold the 2 year old's hand so I could pick up the 4 year old. Anyway, I was so horrified and completely embarrassed. None of them have done anything close to that in public before.



 

[nicolewi]

I think she wanted to hug me but I didn't go in for the hug. She also gave us her leftover 21 cents in Kohl's cash. A lot of people were nice but seriously, I would have probably walked from the back of the store to see what was going on if I had heard a scene like we were making.

[Deleted]

Oh man, been there done that, and I only have one kid (wilted). Ds started terrible 2s before he turned 2 and man, he had some ragers, similar to what you described. The worst one was at Toys R Us when he was 3 and he melted down so bad and did the dead floppy fish thing so I had to stow him under my arm like a bundle of wood and beeline out. I looked like I was abducting my own kid. Tl;dr. You are not alone!! And also yay that the lady near you was so compassionate, it's such a bad feeling when that is going down.

The good story is ds who was an epic tantrum guy is starting to grow out of it...so there is a light at the end of the tunnel and it won't always be like this. Hugs!! Have a coffee or a cocktail, you earned it!!!

[momin2013]

Arrgh, I'm sorry. You are absolutely not alone, and I'm guessing that lady had probably been there, done that before too; how nice of her to step in and help out.

This stuff happens, but the good news is it WON'T happen forever; as you know, they will grow out of it in time. All the hugs and patience to you in the meantime; you're rocking this, being a mama of 4!

[megster20185]

On Monday while waiting in the waiting room before her gymnastics class my dd decided she didn't want to wear her underwear under her leotard and she proceeded to try to take them off right there. I quietly escorted her over to the restroom to fix it and she yells "I don't need to go potty" and has a tantrum right there with her underwear still sticking way out.

[dizzycooks]

You're not alone.
It's so hard to look calm and be rational in those moments, but I try to remember my reaction says so much more about me than their tantrum says about me. If someone doesn't get it, then they can F off. It sucks and anyone who's honest has been there with at least one child.

[cabbagecabbage]

Once I was attempting to backle my full on tantruming two year old into her seat. She was refusing and hitting me and screaming and I realized that a woman was quietly waiting for us so she could get into the drivers side of her car parked next to ours. So I finally removed my thrashing daughter and told her to please go ahead and leave. That was the first mega mega tantrum and I was afraid my kid was going to choke or throw up she was gasping so hard.

[Kcthepouchh8r]

One time when the kids were 2.5/1.5 we were at the y kiddie play area. It was time to go as they had a Pedi appointment to go to. Neither wanted to leave so they both had a meltdown at the same time. I had a flailing, screaming kid under each arm with a diaper bag on my shoulder. Fun times.

[Gwen]

When DD was 3 yo, she had a couch in her playroom. She had so many epic tantrums, that I got in the habit of saying, "If you are going to cry, go to your couch and cry." And she'd lift her sobbing self up and walk out of the room and throw herself dramatically on the couch.

MOTY over here!

So, yes, it's the age and there is little that you can do besides consistent parenting until they out grow it. .

Good news, all that hard work paid-off. Four was glorious.

[happymum]

my son used to do this. he'd cry if we don't get him want he wants. we just let him be. Then recently, I noticed he would just point to something that he wants, I let him hold it for a while, afterwards, he's good. whenever i tell him we need to go, he'd go, no more tantrums. Idk what changed him though, but i'm glad he did!