Punky has recently mastered the art of the temper tantrum. I never expected this behavior so early. Isn't that typically what defines the terrible twos? I thought I had eleven months yet, give or take...
Saturday evening she noticed her new picture in a frame on the entertainment center. She was babbling and pointing (I swear it sounds like she is saying "That! That!") so I took it off the shelf so she could hold it. She stared at her picture for ten seconds, flipped it over and stared at the back of the frame for ten seconds, then stuffed a corner in her mouth...the usual progression with 'new' stuff.
As you would expect, I took it from her and set it back on the shelf while telling her it's not a toy...it doesn't belong in her mouth...there is glass in the frame...she could get hurt...blah, blah, blah...
The minute I turned to walk away she let out a scream that scared me half to death. It only took a second to realize she wasn't hurt; she was having a tantrum. An honest to goodness full-blown temper tantrum. The real deal. I could hardly believe my eyes...and ears.
There she stood in front of the entertainment center, arms stretched as high and far as they would go toward the picture frame, opening and closing her little patties as if trying to grasp it in her hands, stomping her little feet for all she was worth (when did she learn how to do that?), and screaming in the highest, shrillest pitch I have ever heard emerge from my sweet little girl. And then came the tears...real ones...
I was in shock and had no clue what I was supposed to do at that point. I stood there dumbfounded and weighed my options. I figured it wouldn't be wise to give in and let her have the picture. I certainly don't want her to learn that if she screams long enough mama will fold. I didn't think picking her up and coddling her was the right answer either. She was expressing strong emotions and needed to get it out of her system without interference. I didn't want to walk away though and make her feel like mama's not attentive to her needs...okay, wants...but I didn't want to draw attention to her behavior with any strong reaction on my part.
While I was still arguing with myself over the right way to handle it, the tantrum stopped as abruptly as it started. She turned her head to look at me and almost made me cry. She gave me the biggest pout her little lips could muster as one final tear made its way down her tiny cheek. I picked her up, gave her a big hug, kissed her soggy face, and told her I love her. Then I handed her the big, red ball. All was forgiven. Immediately.
Since then we have had a few similar scenarios. Once over an orange I wanted to cut up and eat (she thought it was a ball)...once over a glass apple I won't let her hold (she thinks it's also a ball)... Everything even remotely round is a ball and she has to touch it. She's been on a ball kick...big time.
The last few times we took Punky shopping, I put shoes on her and let her walk around the store. I know, I'm probably creating a monster by letting her out of the damn cart so young and I'll probably never get her back in it, but it's such an opportunity for her. Wide open spaces, tons of interesting stuff to touch, people to smile at as they comment about how little and cute she is....okay, the last one is more for mama but still...
Last trip she was walking nicely between me and Grammy when she suddenly spun 180 and started chasing a shopping cart. We quickly saw the big, orange ball in the back of it and were surprised she even noticed it as the cart zoomed by...the kid doesn't miss a ball, geez. We were headed to the toy department anyhow, so it was bound to happen sooner or later.
We stood her in front of a huge, metal cage full of big, bouncy balls in a rainbow of colors. From the look on her face, you'd have thought the heavens opened up and the sun would eternally shine. Seriously. And the wheels were spinning trying to figure out how the hell she could get in there.
I reached in and grabbed a nice, shiny, red one and handed it to her. She was absolutely thrilled and proudly carried it through the entire store. She told everyone who so much as glanced her way, "Bah!" as she held it out in front of her for them to see. She was so adorable with it and it's been her best friend ever since. She totes it from room to room, and while she pauses to play with other toys, eventually it's right back to the big, red ball.
Thankfully it cost only one dollar; I have a feeling we'll end up with several before the ball fascination passes. She knows there are balls in the store now. She knows where they are. And this child forgets nothing.
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