Yesterday, my youngest daughter had her first grasshopper soccer practice of the year and for some on the team, it was their first time ever. The team consist of children born between two years meaning that they could be anywhere from three to five depending on when their birthday falls on the calendar year. Needless to say, there was a much younger player and he was having none of it. Absolutely, none!
The tantrum thrown by this young player was textbook one indeed. The tantrum involved crying, screaming, nose running, kicking and headbutting. Both my children felt compelled to offer assistance in comforting him. The coach who always puts on his A-Game was also striking out. Forty five minutes into this epic meltdown the mom decided it was time to leave, admitting that he had a cold and was under the weather. It all made perfect sense. New environment, strangers and feeling sick. The little guy was miserable. I admire the mom’s effort to wait it out, but I may have thrown in the towel earlier if I knew my child was sick. Perhaps we would have sat the whole thing out at home.
The truth is we have all been that mom who endures the tantrum and feels all the eyes that get caught in all of the hoopla. It can be very frustrating, embarrassing and upsetting. We try with every ounce of dignity and patience to wait them out. I have even excuse my upset child and myself to find a place to peacefully solve the situation at hand. A tantrum is very common when they do not know how to cope with the situation and that is the only way that they can express how they feel. A little empathy from both the spectator and the parent can go a long way.
They call the tantrums the terrible twos and whinny fours. Two of my kids had them and grew out of them. The oldest did not have tantrums, but they say the first born will fool you into having more kids. Thanks kiddo. At the end trust me when I say they grew out of them!
