Last night’s temper tantrum
was a resounding success.
Let us consider the salient
features of the tantrum and
see to what heights of glory
were reached by last night’s
specimen. Usually, a tantrum
begins with some struggle
right before bedtime, typically
involving the cessation of play
and the transition upstairs.
This was most clearly evident.
Ad electronics.
There must be yelling.
There was a veritable smorgasbord
of yelling, reaching in several key
moments to the pitch of screaming.
Very nice. Tears are good during
a tantrum, if you can manage them,
and last night’s tantrum produced
puddles of the stuff. Perhaps
one of the most exquisite and
simultaneously painful aspects
of the tantrum is an apparent
absence of anything like squaring
with reality. Last night’s tantrum
included several resounding examples
of this: Why are you being so mean?
Why are you screaming? Why don’t
you love me? Nobody listens to me
around here! You get the picture.
Out of a whole season of tantrums
this was one of the most effective and
sustained. The conclusion, though,
I have to say, was most satisfying,
as the struggle reached a decrescendo
into something like quiet, peace was
achieved, and finally, everybody
went to sleep.
michael jarmer 
my five year old
is a pro
~
power struggles
imperfect timing
cue the guilt
Geo! Absolutely. My guy is 9. I think the tantrums were worse at 5. During that phase, he would hit! They’re more infrequent now, thank goodness. And yes, the guilt. Always: how could I have handled that differently, and better?
breathe
~
in my head
slowly
counting to four