“No, I won’t go!”
“I want that toy ~ I’m not leaving until I get it!”
Have you heard these statements before?
What happens when you refuse to give in?
Enter now ~ crying, whining, screaming, laying on the floor, kicking….sigh…..the “joys” of a temper tantrum.
My children both went through this stage. It was not easy, embarrassment seemed a daily occurrence at times. I wish I could say I was always strong and won all the battles, but I can’t.
My daughter recently had one of these moments, my brother was visiting…..and we were in the middle of a retail store. Sigh. I am not very tall, and can not carry either of my kids anymore (especially when they’re having a temper tantrum). So my brother “threw” her over his shoulder and carried her out while my son and I followed. I was yet again, embarrassed.
It had been at least a couple years since I’d had to do this. Something my brother said struck me that day. He told my daughter that it didn’t embarrass him to carry her out ~ that everyone was looking at her ~ not him. I had never thought of it that way. I have always imagined people staring at me and talking about what a bad mom I must be. This didn’t make the situation better or go away, yet it provided a different look at the moment though.
As I am writing this, I’m thinking about the different ways we as adults throw temper tantrums.
We are selfish, impatient, unkind, unloving humans at times ~ just like our children.
We don’t always do what God desires of us.
Doesn’t that make us disobedient, selfish and unloving towards our Father?
We don’t use kind and loving words when speaking to our children all the time.
When someone does something or says something that hurts us, are we patient and forgiving?
Sometimes we are all the good things ~ patient, kind, loving, selfless, etc. Yet our first reaction I fear many times is like a stomp of the foot, a pout, maybe even an angry word or two.
We may be “adults”, but we still suffer from temper tantrums in and of ourselves. God must chuckle to Himself I think, when we get so wound up and upset while our lil ones have a temper tantrum. He sees us having our own, just in a different “adult” kind of way.
So, the next time your lil one has a temper tantrum or melt down ~ stop and ask God for the same measure of grace, mercy and forgiveness He shows you.
Thought provoking post.
We believe we need to control our children or people will judge us…but if we are out of control, does anyone judge our Father? Interesting perspective.
Thank you for linking up with Thankful Thursday.
Yes, we need to be in control ourselves, for by doing that it will teach our children more than our words do. They watch, listen and thus learn from our actions and words! Thank you for stoppin by! Blessings!
So true!! I love this post! I need to remember to stop,my temper tantrums. It’s a good thing God is way more patient then I am. 🙂
It is what I needed too. So often we get caught up in our kids temper tantrums and totally forget that we have them too. We might not sit on the floor and kick and scream, but essentially that’s what we do with God sometimes. Patience is something God has the corner in 😉 Blessings!
This is great! And so true!
Thanks girly 😉 Blessings!
Thank you for this reminder… My daughter just turned one and recently began throwing fits. It can be embarrassing, but I remind myself that it is a stage almost every child goes through and will not last forever. 🙂
I try to remember to remain calm and keep the “discipline” consistent. If you’re consistent then they will know what to expect and it will begin to die off. It might rear it’s ugly head once in a while, but it will become less as you remain consistent. Thanks for stoppin by! Blessings!
Thomas is just starting this stage and oh it stresses me out. Everything is a drama if it doesn’t go his way. This is a great perspective though and will be a good reminder to ask the Lord for a measure of patience and grace to walk him through this stage!
Don’t let it stress you out dear….that makes it worse I’ve found 🙁 Prayer is a great option! I love what Dana mentioned as well, that’s really good. My mom once sat down and sulked with my son in the middle of a Christian Book Store once. I even got a picture before he realized what was going on! LOL! It definitely made an impression on him! Thanks for stoppin by! Blessings!
Great post. Makes you think. I recall my youngest trying to have a tantrum in Walmart. I kindly stepped over her (as she rolled on the floor) and kept walking.
You should have seen her face.
She said “Momma you’re gonna leave me?”
I looked over my shoulder and said, “Yes, because you are not my child rolling around like you lost your mind.”
I grabbed my son’s hand and we walked away. Seconds later I heard the little pidder padder of her feet.
She never tried that again. 🙂
That is awesome! LOL! I have walked away when my daughter gets lippy in a store, she is always quick to follow behind as well 😉 Thanks for sharing and stoppin by! Blessings!
Love this! I wrote about the same exact thing at the beginning of the week. I really like what your brother said. I’ve said the same thing to my daughter. I took her out of church after whispering to her that she was making a scene. Once we got out, she said that I embarrassed her. I asked her who she thinks people were looking at, the girl throwing the fit or the mother whispering for her to be quiet. She got the point.
Yes, it definitely made the point when he said it to her. I have not said it, but probably need to. I do get embarrassed, though as I feel I should be able to “control” my daughter. It is definitely a humbling experience when we go through these times. Thanks for stoppin by! Blessings!