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I've had dcg (2 years and a bit) for a couple of months. Good as gold, but a little stubborn. She quickly found out who is boss but she still tries. God bless her.
So today a new little boy starts for a couple of hours this morning. She is usually the only one here as I'm just starting out. She's having a hard time sharing 'her' toys, which all day I reminded her they were my toys and we all share them. Anyway, she's teary-eyed and glum (so not like her). I put her down for her nap and she's still grumpy. So I pat her on the back and say that when she wakes up we'll have an ice cream cone. I never give treats so this is a big deal. Just so you know, this was not a bribe... I just wanted her to feel special after having a bad morning. 10 minutes later she starts crying. I go in and she's crying for ice cream. I say, yes, after your nap. I'm starting to realize that I really messed up big time. I leave the room. Then she starts screaming. I go running and I'm thinking she's ill. This is just not like her. I'm being calm and asking her what's wrong, I pick her up and rock her. I ask her to breathe and stop crying for a second so I can understand what she's saying. She wants ice cream now. This goes on for twenty minutes and I'm starting to get worried.... what's gotten into her?
Then, ding ding ding, I get it. She's having a full blown tantrum! Enough of this noise and back to her bed she goes. I tell her to look at me in my face, breathe, and listen because I'm only going to say it once.... when you wake up you will have ice cream. Not before. No way. Go to sleep now.
I haven't heard anything since but a few hiccup breaths. And, my heart is beating back to normal. I seriously thought something was physically wrong with her. But, I learned my lesson.
So today a new little boy starts for a couple of hours this morning. She is usually the only one here as I'm just starting out. She's having a hard time sharing 'her' toys, which all day I reminded her they were my toys and we all share them. Anyway, she's teary-eyed and glum (so not like her). I put her down for her nap and she's still grumpy. So I pat her on the back and say that when she wakes up we'll have an ice cream cone. I never give treats so this is a big deal. Just so you know, this was not a bribe... I just wanted her to feel special after having a bad morning. 10 minutes later she starts crying. I go in and she's crying for ice cream. I say, yes, after your nap. I'm starting to realize that I really messed up big time. I leave the room. Then she starts screaming. I go running and I'm thinking she's ill. This is just not like her. I'm being calm and asking her what's wrong, I pick her up and rock her. I ask her to breathe and stop crying for a second so I can understand what she's saying. She wants ice cream now. This goes on for twenty minutes and I'm starting to get worried.... what's gotten into her?
Then, ding ding ding, I get it. She's having a full blown tantrum! Enough of this noise and back to her bed she goes. I tell her to look at me in my face, breathe, and listen because I'm only going to say it once.... when you wake up you will have ice cream. Not before. No way. Go to sleep now.
I haven't heard anything since but a few hiccup breaths. And, my heart is beating back to normal. I seriously thought something was physically wrong with her. But, I learned my lesson.
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