I don't want to

Oh yes. The defiant cross my arms, pout my lip, and the angry heat burning in their eyes. I know every parent has seen this at least once in their life. If you have a toddler you probably see it every day. This is Lil's new favorite response to almost everything. I swear this little rebel will be the end of me. She pushes your buttons until you are about to pop and you know she loves every second of it. And then when things don't go her way man do you get an earful.

She has also started the scream. You know what I'm talking about. The scream that if I don't get my way now I'm gonna scream until it happens. Well go ahead missy. Wear out your vocal cords with that screaming because it aint gonna happen, not with that attitude. When she finally calms down she knows to apologize, I don't even need to tell her to anymore. She just says mommy I'm sorry for being nasty. And I say thank you for apologizing, now are you ready to tell me nicely what you want? And that's it. The problem is over.

I have seen this reaction in kids before and sometimes the parents give in and that is THE WRONG THING TO DO! Never give in to those temper tantrums. If your in a restaurant take your kid outside to cool off and then let them know you are going back in and they need to behave. Make sure you have something to occupy their time while you finish your meal. If you know ahead of time your kid is going to act up in the grocery store why not prevent it? Each time we go to the store I either get them a cookie ahead of time so by the time I'm finished shopping they are just finishing their cookie. Or I promise them a piece of candy if they behave.

Some people might think this isn't the way to teach your kids stuff but why not try to avoid the melt down before it happens? Why not do things to prevent it? And if they don't behave they don't get rewarded. This system may not be good for real life but do we really need to plan ahead for their whole life at the age of two? Is that necessary? They still have sixteen more years to learn the proper life lessons. Sure it might be easier in the long run but I'm more focused on the what's happening now so I'm not miserable for sixteen more years. So that by the time they are grown I'm kicking them out of the house. I want to enjoy my time with them, not resent them. And if bribing them is what does this then so be it!

All those in favor of taking it one day at time say I!