Dear Fellow Stressed-Out Mom,
I heard your frustrations while watching our young sons play hockey; I get it. You are not alone, us other moms aren't judging you, we understand what you are going through. My 8-yr-old hockey player, tends to be on the overly dramatic side, he is my tantrum thrower. Luckily for me, he decided to throw his epic tantrums at home. We all feel like everyone around us is judging us, our kids, our parenting capabilites; we aren't, we feel your pain, we feel your child's difficulty controlling his/her emotions. I know it isn't easy, but please try to stop worrying about what everyone else it thinking. The majority of us, are or have been in your shoes. Your toddler was screaming at you, demanding his tablet. You kept telling him, no one wants to hear him scream, and you also kept reinforcing the fact that bad behavior doesn't earn rewards. I just want to let you know, you were absolutely right. No, I didn't really want to listen to your toddler scream (but I'm sure you didn't either), I also didn't want to see you give in to their demands. You didn't. You deserve an award! It is unbelievably hard, to resist a toddlers tantrum, especially in public; it is much easier to appease them and give them what they demand. Yet, that isn't teaching them anything. If you would have done that; you, me and everyone else who attends any event with your child, would be listening to tantrums. You should be applauded. I should have turned around and told you, you were a great parent, to stick to your guns, everyone understands. I too was worried, you would think I was judging you, that maybe I should mind my own business. We as parents, tend to worry and blow things out of proportion. We are not the only parents who have had to deal with a tantrum, and if that is the worst thing that we as parents have to deal with, we should consider ourselves blessed. I know your husband was also worried, he wanted to give in, to quiet the mess of emotions a toddler feels (we are here to teach them their emotions are ok), you mama, you stayed strong. Staying strong isn't easy in the face of a tantrum thrown at home, let alone in public. I just wanted to let you know, you are an amazing mom, you did the right thing, the hard thing, even when it would have been easier to give in.
From a kindred mom to another.
Stay strong, you've got this!
I heard your frustrations while watching our young sons play hockey; I get it. You are not alone, us other moms aren't judging you, we understand what you are going through. My 8-yr-old hockey player, tends to be on the overly dramatic side, he is my tantrum thrower. Luckily for me, he decided to throw his epic tantrums at home. We all feel like everyone around us is judging us, our kids, our parenting capabilites; we aren't, we feel your pain, we feel your child's difficulty controlling his/her emotions. I know it isn't easy, but please try to stop worrying about what everyone else it thinking. The majority of us, are or have been in your shoes. Your toddler was screaming at you, demanding his tablet. You kept telling him, no one wants to hear him scream, and you also kept reinforcing the fact that bad behavior doesn't earn rewards. I just want to let you know, you were absolutely right. No, I didn't really want to listen to your toddler scream (but I'm sure you didn't either), I also didn't want to see you give in to their demands. You didn't. You deserve an award! It is unbelievably hard, to resist a toddlers tantrum, especially in public; it is much easier to appease them and give them what they demand. Yet, that isn't teaching them anything. If you would have done that; you, me and everyone else who attends any event with your child, would be listening to tantrums. You should be applauded. I should have turned around and told you, you were a great parent, to stick to your guns, everyone understands. I too was worried, you would think I was judging you, that maybe I should mind my own business. We as parents, tend to worry and blow things out of proportion. We are not the only parents who have had to deal with a tantrum, and if that is the worst thing that we as parents have to deal with, we should consider ourselves blessed. I know your husband was also worried, he wanted to give in, to quiet the mess of emotions a toddler feels (we are here to teach them their emotions are ok), you mama, you stayed strong. Staying strong isn't easy in the face of a tantrum thrown at home, let alone in public. I just wanted to let you know, you are an amazing mom, you did the right thing, the hard thing, even when it would have been easier to give in.
From a kindred mom to another.
Stay strong, you've got this!