Tumblewords

Fractals Photos Poetry Prose Watercolor

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

J for ABC Wednesday

ABC Wednesday offers 'J' as the prompt. Thank you!




Three-year-old Jennifer was the Sarah Bernhardt of tantrums. During one of her fits of anger, I bent over her ranting body and said, "Wow! Can you show me how to do that?" She immediately calmed  to recite instructions for kicking and yelling with the caution suggested for headbanging: "because it might hurt".

Then she stood to help me adjust for 'tantrum pose'. We laughed as she moved my arms and legs while giving additional directions.

She doesn't throw many tantrums these days, but I have continued.


A variation of my article was published in the June 1997 issue of Parents.

Jen's mosaic photo was created using Andrea Mosaic, freeware found at the link. Photos like this are much better when seen in larger format but Jen probably wouldn't forgive me if she appeared full size here and I have no desire to anger her!

~~~♥~~~♥~~~♥~~~

18 comments:

Hildred said...

Creative parenting, - congratulations!

Janie said...

Funny solution to a child's temper tantrum! My first grandchild used to try a tantrum now and then. I wish I'd thought of your method of dealing with it.

Paula Scott Molokai Girl Studio said...

What a lovely way to deal with a tantrum! I wish I could be as wise and as calm to deal with situations like that!
A work in progress...

magiceye said...

jen in a nutshell!

anthonynorth said...

Now that's the way to handle tantrums :-)

Mara said...

Oh, that is such a brilliant way to deal with tantrums! And funny as well...

Jane Hards Photography said...

A tanatrum a day keeps the doctor away.

Q said...

You are wise and so very fun.
Happy J!
Sherry

poefusion said...

oh, how i remember those days. what a delightful story, Tumblewords. hope all is well. have a great day.

Sylvia K said...

You are indeed very wise and this is a terrific story! Love it! Great post as well!

Have a great day!

Sylvia

Jay said...

Oh, how funny! LOL!

' ... but I have continued'! I love that bit! Me too!

Christy Woolum said...

I am glad she is over her tantrums! Thanks also for the freeware info.

dianasfaria.com said...

what a great story! so funny and creative of you.

April said...

Very inventive way to deal with temper tantrums. Wonderful post!

EG CameraGirl said...

Very clever way to get Jen stop! I hope she smiled when she read this. ;-)

Roger Owen Green said...

So are you saying that Jen would throw another tantrum if the photo were larger?
Anyway, that mimicry is a great solution!

Rune Eide said...

I like that story - it tell s quite a lot about children (we have four). And I can understand why Jen wouldn't like rhe full size on the net - stealing of pictures happens.

Beverley Baird said...

What a creative way to deal with tantrums. Great photo!