Screaming

The SNOWMAN book, Mommy!  I NEED it.  NOW!!!  AHHHHH!  WAHHHH!  EEEEEE!  SNOWMAN BOOK!  (Please read with intensity, gusto, conviction, and the most annoying tone you can create and you will have achieved accuracy.)  

Overcome with tiredness, frustration, and confusion, my 3 year old treasure often finds herself unable to cope.  Like the time the towel was the wrong one, and the when the brother went where he wasn’t supposed to go, and the mother did something wrong.  It’s a daily occurrence, really.  

So what should my response be?  Well, some have said that what works for them is simply to throw a glass of cold water on child and no more similar outbursts occurred.  Others claim that such behaviour needs to be punished and have a time out chair, a punishment corner, or a hair brush to connect with a cute bottom.  Read thousands of books with advise and you will find thousands of tried options.  Take your pick, really.  

As a disclaimer, I want to make it clear that my response is usually less than the nobleness I wish it was.  Usually there is some chemical reaction in my brain that triggers anxiety and stress and anger at my dog.  

Back to the question - how SHOULD we react when our children throw nasty fits?   I’d like to suggest that instead of isolating our kids when they are driving us crazy with their own craziness, we should open our arms for them to draw CLOSER to us.  Instead of punishing them for the release of their developing emotions, we should allow them to sit on our laps, scream it out, and experience grace.  Hold them at the worst.  Love them more intensely.  

I know, baby.  That snowman book is such a good one.  I wish we could read it.  Come here.  

“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”  -Hebrews 4:16