Judge, jury and ....

An issue close to my heart is tantrums.  Not that I love them, but I have had to come to terms with embracing them (if you can't beat 'em join 'em)!  Correct me if I'm wrong, but every child has them (albeit some more than others). 

Now, the purpose of this piece of writing is to make you feel better when your children take their turn.  If you don't have a child who has reached the "wonderful" age of 3 yet, then you may not know what I am talking about (or maybe you have an early starter - I had one of those), but you will.  My plea to the parents of under-3s is not to judge those of us who are living in this season.  It is heart-wrenching, peace-shattering, soul-destroying.....  If you think I am being over-dramatic, I am actually understating how terrible it is!

The feeling of being in the middle of a crowded shopping centre while the 3 year-old love of your life is flailing around on the filthy floor whilst emitting a sound that is a little less than sound-barrier level, is just awful.  What makes it worse is when you look around hoping for a supportive smile or someone who looks like they might know how you feel, and instead, you get disapproving glares, shaking heads and a chorus of tut-tuts.  And this is from mothers, grand-mothers and not-quite-yet mothers?!
Have you all forgotten?  Have you blocked it from your memory in the hope that you can pretend to your friends, daughters and daughters-in-law that your child NEVER dared behave like that?  Well I call your bluff, they did.  They all do.
The old adage is true, "Do not judge someone until you have walked in their shoes".  If you don't yet have a 3 year old, then please;  "Do not judge, lest ye be judged harsher"!  It's the hormones, and unless you're willing to have your child's endocrine system removed it is better to be prepared than kid yourself that you will not succumb to this stage.

Yesterday I saw a mother who, in my opinion, is a champion.  Her beautiful little 3-year-old was being, well... a 3-year-old; she did the best thing anyone can do for a little boy in this situation.  She gave an instruction with a consequence, and when he didn't respond favourably she FOLLOWED THROUGH!  She took him home kicking and screaming, it was heavenly!  She said she was embarrassed, but I made sure she knew I thought she was a hero.  Before this child reaches the seemingly elusive age of 4, he will be a wonderful little member of society.  Stick with it, persevere and never give up; you will beat the tantrum...eventually!

I want to encourage anyone who is reading this to take the time to give a little support to mums-of-3s that you may come across and let them know with a smile or a well-meaning word.  My desire is to champion a movement of parents who purposefully support each other in this difficult task of parenting.

Cheers