The Tantrum

Finally silence. The kids are in bed and I am glad.

I've just gotten back from an invigorating, heart thumping walk up the hill and back down. Damn I needed it, the 3 y/o has been driving me bonkers, I just needed to get away before I followed through with my threats of donating her to charity. It was hot, sweaty and humid, but nothing a quick dunk in the spa on my return didn't fix.

I think I had been lulled into a false sense of security. Grace has been perfect over the last few months, rarely causing a hassle and able to snap out of any mood easily.

Well that was until yesterday happened. Oh, golly gosh. She copped me a beauty, catching me totally unawares with, I am sure, the biggest tantrum that has ever been thrown. Ever.

The day had been going well. We were having our regular get together with Nicole & Chelsea and all the kids. Logan and Xav had been having fun together. It was quite funny actually, Xav was very interested in Logan with no nappy on. He crouched down to get a good look at his bits, then wouldn't stop pointing at them. He sees Grace nudie all the time and never takes any notice, but for some reason he couldn't stop gawking at Logan. No doubt these pics will get dragged out for their 18th!




Anyway, the 2 boys retired for a snooze whilst we had a nice relaxing lunch. Grace was missing playing with Malia, but she was behaving nicely. I should've known something was going to be brewing though, she had been up since 6am. I am also trying to get her out of her day sleep, unless it is absolutely necessary. The days she has a sleep now she wont got to bed until 9.30, which although I miss the quiet time in the day, having her up that late is so bloody annoying.

So after the boys woke we thought the kids might enjoy a stroll to the park. Walking down was fine, both kids held onto my hands and cooperated nicely. At the park was fine, the kids all happily played on the slide and swings. We then went for a little walk on an old unused bike track, picking up leaves, bark, feathers and just enjoying the stroll.

Even leaving the park was fine, no annoying whinging about "Just one more swing, puhleease", we were all happy and heading back to Nicoles.


Well that was until Miss Grace decided that she would prefer to walk alone, ahead of me, right beside the busy road. I told her that she had to hold my hand, first I asked nicely. Then it was all on, the whingy, screaming toddler noises started as she frantically tried to break from my grip. I gripped harder, knowing that if I lost it, she would be off. I regripped my hold on both kids wrist, and picked up the walking pace. Grace was still inconsolable and could not be settled, she just kept on screaming at me to let her go. Xav, being the partner in crime, then also started screaming and squirming. It was hot and muggy and I was starting to get frustrated and over it, but as we were so close to a busy road I couldn't really just walk of and leave them, although at the time I would have loved too.


Nicole was behind me all this time, staying well out of the firing line. Probably her first experience of a full on tantrum, certainly not something she has experienced from her very placid 16 month old. No doubt scared the bejeevers out of her though, considering she is 6 months pregnant and going to have the same age gap that I have between Grace & Xav. Good experience though, if you can deal with a tantruming 3 y/o, you are ready for anything!


So I mustered all my energy, scooped Xav up onto my hip, grabbed Grace firmly by the wrist and marched on back to the house. The screaming kept going, and it was a long and exhausting walk but we got there. Grace was promptly put on the step and told she was in time out. I left her for a bit until we had both calmed down then we had a chat about what had just happened. She had a drink and went back to being a happy little girl.


For the most part of the afternoon she was perfect, only breaking into her very annoying, sing-songy whiny voice every now and then. Duane only spent a few hours with her that afternoon but even my placid husband was ordering a stiff drink when she was down for the night. Actually being the non-drinker that he is, a stiff drink for him was a splash of rum in his coke!


I'm hoping we don't have too many repeats of the "episode", I'm not sure how many more I can take!