Additional Coverage:
- My toddler threw an epic tantrum in public. The advice I got from another mom stuck with me for years. (businessinsider.com)
Toddler Tantrums and the Kindness of Strangers
My daughter bypassed the “terrible twos” entirely, leaving me blissfully unaware of the tantrum storms that lay ahead. Then, at a local harvest fair, my perfectly behaved three-year-old launched her shoe at another child – all because I told her it was time to leave. It was a mortifying moment for me, a public display of toddler rage that left me feeling like a parenting failure.
The day began like any other weekend outing. My daughter, insistent on wearing a black velour jumper despite the warm September weather, happily explored the fair.
We strolled past the bake sale, bounced in the bouncy house, and enjoyed the festive atmosphere. My infant dozed peacefully in the stroller.
But when it was time to go, my sweet little girl transformed. She refused to leave, dropping to the ground in the middle of the town green.
My cheerful “Time to go” was met with a defiant “No!”
As her protests escalated into full-blown screams, a tiny patent leather shoe went airborne, striking another child. My heart sank.
The victim was a student of mine, a sweet, shy girl with big, brown eyes. I stammered apologies to the girl and her father, mortified by my daughter’s outburst.
As I scooped up my screaming toddler, another mom approached me. “You OK?”
she asked gently. I confessed my horror at my daughter’s behavior.
Her response, simple yet profound, has stayed with me for years: “We’ve all been there. Every single one of us.”
Her words were a balm to my frazzled nerves. No judgment, just empathy and understanding.
In that moment, I realized I wasn’t alone. Parenting is hard, and sometimes, even the best kids have meltdowns.
Now, years later, I often recall her kindness. I’ve even shared her comforting words with other stressed-out parents navigating the turbulent waters of toddlerhood. “We’ve all been there,” I say, offering a reassuring smile and a reminder that we’re all in this together.