I’m So Glad That Wasn’t Me!

I was on the train last week.  It was the rush hour home, so the train was crowded with people who really just wanted to get home so that they can (I imagine) unwind, relax, and possibly spend time with their families.  There was his lady on the train riding with her two young children. The youngest was around 2 or 3 years old.  That child was a little girl.  She was a cute little girl.  The kind that makes you say, “Oh, I wish my daughter was that age again.  I miss that time of our lives.”, or “Maybe I’ll have just one more.”  It is so easy to forget how little kids can behave when you see them with someone else. They look so cute and perfect. You gloss over all the challenges that come with raising toddlers and preschoolers.  All you see is the cuteness, the sweetness, and how adorable those little kids appear to be.  
 
Well, as I mentioned, this little girl was adorable. She was standing on the train, swinging her Barbie doll, as if she didn’t have a care in the world.  Then, her mother took the Barbie doll away.  Now, I understand why she did it, the train was crowded.  Mom didn’t want her daughter to hit anyone with the doll.  And, let’s be real.  This is Brooklyn.  If that child had hit someone, only God knows how they would have reacted.  So, Mom did what she thought was best, she took away the doll.  
 
When Mom took away that doll, that  adorable, sweet, angelic little girl transformed instantaneously into the demon from hell.  I know you all may think I’m exaggerating.  But believe you me, I am not.  This girl started shouting and crying … loudly.  This kid started at level 1000.  She didn’t work her way up to it like some kids tend to do.  This one went right into a full out, let me get everyone’s attention mode.  
 
I felt so bad for this mother.  I know she wished that she could just disappear.  I have to give Mom credit.  She maintained her composure throughout the whole ordeal.  I don’t think I would have had the patience she had.  She talked to her daughter and explained why she took the doll away.  But this kid did not want to hear reason.  All she wanted was that doll back.  And let me tell you, this kid was hollering so loudly, you would have thought she was getting the beating of her life.  Mom didn’t lay one hand on her.  
 
Now normally, I would side with the Mom and stand with her in principle.  Mom should not give her daughter back her doll, but this kid would not let up.  To her credit, as much as I’m sure me and the rest of the people on this train wanted her to give that doll back, Mom stood fast and held her ground.  I understood. She had to take a stand and not give in to her daughter’s behavior.  If she did, the only lesson that little girl would have learned was that she could get her way by having temper tantrums.  I learned that day that the people who ride the 2 train are very tolerant. No one said anything or complained to Mom about her daughter.  Everyone pretty much ignored the whole scene, even though we were a captive audience and had to endure that meltdown for a good 15 minutes (it felt like it was much longer).
 
Anyway, when you have little kids, get ready for the temper tantrums.  They will come at the most inconvenient times.
 
So, now you know, and you can ….
 
Consider Yourself  Warned.
 
How would/do you cope with a young child’s temper tantrum?