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We are so failing at figuring out how to deal with toddler tantrums. I feel like it’s becoming obvious that we have no experience being around kids and I really need to get out and hang out with other mommies and their kids to see someone else experience a similar situation. Here is a snipit of an email I sent to a friend – this is soon after while I was still in an emotional state and eyes still stinging from earlier tears.

started out good, we left the gate open last night, she slept all night and came into our room at 5:17am. then I got in the shower and I guess Jeff let her go straight to the tv (like I’m sure she probably demanded). I come out around 5:45, tv show ends and I say get breakfast. she says ok to cheerios. we make the bowl, bring it to the table and she won’t get in her chair, won’t eat the cheerios - would have thrown them if we let her. crying starts, then somewhere shes in her chair and says 'new cheerios'. Jeff was ready to get her new ones, takes the bowl back around the counter and more screaming. ‘No’ to new ones and ‘No’ to existing ones. so that led to about 15 minutes of her sitting in her chair refusing breakfast. Jeff was offering her other stuff, and I was trying to battle her and say no, these are made, it's these or nothing. he goes to take a shower, I force her out of her seat and take her in her room to get dressed. more crying. I tried singing about it, 2 clothes options, whatever. just screaming. about 6:30 jeff comes out, we get some underwear and pants on her and she's pulling them off. by 6:50 we had forced her into clothes and a coat, I never let go of her afraid she'd pull her clothes off, and I got her in a car seat. then I went back in the house and cried and put makeup on again.

So we’ll get through this weekend of having a bunch of company and a party and then try a new routine for Monday. I even borrowed and idea from another site and printed out some picture cards for it. Sunshine, potty, dressed, breakfast, teeth. And if all that is done before 6:40 then she can watch tv. but preferably no tv at all in the mornings. I wonder if I can just put a sheet over the tv, or if that would be like playing hide and seek with it and get her excited about it.
And Jeff had a good suggestion that we make breakfast on the table in front of her. so she'll be belted in, with an empty bowl in front and just bring the milk and box to the table. And maybe we'll be brave enough to let her hold the box or pour milk.

After all this (tantrums, tears and snipping at my husband over parenting techniques, etc) effecting my mood for the first few hours this morning, I get to work and read about the huge earthquake and tsunami in Japan and try to go back to thinking how truly lucky and blessed I am to have everyone and everything I have.

Next up, to pull some pictures from a very fun and happy weekend in Texas recently….