Thanks HDYDI Readers. Because of you, I can write this down and HOPEFULLY I’ll finally, FINALLY remember it. You don’t know how many times I’ve smacked myself in the head a la “Shoulda hadda V8” as I’m reminded of this tip.
So read and learn, peeps. Don’t be me. Smacking yourself while driving is just not safe.
OK. Today. The morning naps were over and Sarah was clamoring for her 18th snack of the day. “Not plain old raisins, Ma, YOGURT COVERED RAISINS!”
“YOGURT COVERED RAISINS!”
“YOGURT COVERED RAISINS, B$#%H!”
We were housebound yesterday because of the leftover typhoon that hit the west coast and I guess I was still feeling the after effects of early onset cabin fever, because I was seriously over it. Motherhood, that is. I was just languishing about in a sea of toys and half crushed Kix, watching Matthew try to smash his sippy cup through the window and listening to Sarah screech about the raisins. I was frozen in a hellacious moment and hating life. I even got that, “Should I be a SAHM?” feeling. (Don’t worry, I shook that off with a quickness.)
I had put a rain cover for the BOB on hold at our local REI, and since I couldn’t walk to the grocery store as planned because of the DOWNPOUR, I figured this was as good a time as any to go pick it up.
Two seconds into the car ride all was well with the world. They were singing and laughing and dancing in their carseats and I was singing and laughing and dancing right along with them. I was Happy Mom again!
This is where the self-smackdown came in. The Reset Button! Duh. Whether it’s a major tantrum or just midday doldrums, changing things up with a walk, or a trip the backyard, or a ride in the car will make all the difference in the world. Like so many other parenting tips, this one seems pretty damn obvious, but in the moment? It’s anything but. I just find it so easy to get sucked into the whinyness, the discontent and the overall crankiness and it’s like quicksand. So….Hard….To…Get….Out….
I think I need to put up post-its all over the house that say “Reset Button” or even better, “Change it up, Dummy!” because I can never seem to remember! It’s usually only out of desperation that I actually implement a change, not out of smart parenting.
It happened again later, too. We’re not really sure what caused Sarah’s evening tantrum aside from a boycotted afternoon nap, but she screamed for a good 20 minutes. Actually it might have been longer, but I went for a run. My husband said he changed her diaper and put her in the crib for a good ole’ fashioned cage match with her brother and she was a new person. Giggling like you wouldn’t believe and generally acting like nothing had happened.
RESET! Remember it, friends.