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a May 19th, 2013

  1. The Temper Trap

    May 19, 2013 by admin

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    We recently read yet another article (“How to Tame a Tantrum,” Parents, April 2013) addressing how to deal with kids that are throwing temper tantrums.  It left us with another one of those ‘that’s not the way we do it’ moments in parenting.

    We don’t experience a lot of tantrums at our house, but when one of our kiddos does start to break down, TR Mom and TR Dad immediately step in with questions.  We ask them to pull it together so that they can explain what is so upsetting.  We instruct our kids to use their words in order to help us understand what’s going on.  We have practiced this with our children from the very beginning.

    But this is, apparently, the exact opposite of what the ‘parenting experts’ advise.  They say that questions confuse kids.  They say that children are incapable of pulling themselves together in the midst of a tantrum.

    Our kids can break free of a meltdown, when helped by a parent.  But then, they haven’t talked to the experts.

    It comes down to this: You know your child better than any expert you will ever meet.  We’re not saying that we know better than the professionals.  And we’re certainly not saying that we know what’s best for your family.

    We are saying that YOU know what works within your family.  Follow your gut.  Be open to other people’s ideas, but don’t let those suggestions become more important than your own instincts.