tantrum

Lauren,

You have become super-independent lately. You don't like it when you don't get your way, and you let us know!

But tonight...you had your first tantrum! You ate supper at 5:00 and daddy got home about 5:40. I had made supper for daddy and me, complete with homemade macaroni and cheese. (you will eat it for leftover lunch tomorrow!)

We were sitting down to eat, and thought that you would be content playing on the floor near by while we ate at the kitchen table. (usually this is true if we eat later than you).

Not tonight! You wanted to be up ON the couch in the living room. But- you can't be on the couch unless one of us is there with you, because you might fall. So, we told you "no, you can't play on the couch right now."

You lost it.

Complete meltdown.

There was howling, there were buckets and buckets of tears, your face turned red and I think your stomped your foot a few times.

Daddy and I were in the kitchen watching (and trying to ignore this behavior) You decided to express yourself to us by shrieking in your baby babble language loudly : "dababadeebadaadbaa!" (or something like that)

Then you did it again! You looked right at us and screamed!!

And you could have heard a pin drop.

Daddy and I were not sure what to do!

Thoughts of spanking crossed both our minds...(we haven't really had to do that yet!)

....but I went over and calmly scooped you up and took you up to your crib, put you in and walked out, closing the door.

You screamed and cried, but after about 10 minutes, you calmed down enough that we thought you were asleep!

But then you started making little talking sounds that we heard on the monitor, so we went up and you "said" sorry and we let you come out of your crib to get ready for bed and read some books.

Goodness, little girl! We are NOT ready for this kind of behavior quite yet! PLEASE tell us this is not going to be a new trend!

We love you and we know that God has given us a big responsibility to raise you! We need to start praying harder! :)