A Tantrum Story

It was the first t-ball game of the season. The stands were full of happy proud parents and grandparents. Their children played happily on the playground while their boys took the field. 

I sat in the front row, behind home plate. They giggled and played happily for the first 3 minutes. 

I thought this will be the summer I can actually watch the games. Avila is not the wandering one year old from last summer. 

I brought a sucker "just-in-case" Avila needs a distraction, but didn't think the hour long game would require one, after all she's almost two now.  

Why do I set myself up for inevitable disillusionment and failure? 

I gave Avila a sucker half way through, since she wanted to follow Christiana to the playground, but needed to stay with me. 

Then Christiana came back and wanted a treat, so I gave her a laffy taffy. 

Then Avila wanted Christiana's laffy taffy.

I didn't give it to her.

How dare I.  

It grew and escalated into piercing high pitch. 

Face turned purple. 

Squatty body went into full body convulsion and shaking. 

It was all out, throw to the ground, blood curdling screaming hysterical fit...for a full 5 minutes. 

And I was so fittingly behind home plate in between two full stands of people.

I had a half a thought to hold her by the feet and dunk her head first into the nearby trashcan to shake her from the fit, but resisted the idea. 

I had lots of other ideas come to mind too. 

But there was nothing that would have stopped this one. 

Thank you Avila for so wonderfully delivering me with yet another great parenting moment of humility. Especially the throw your blue sucker into my face move and the lashing of your sticky hands into my hair as you arched all the way back onto your head. An amazing performance for center stage. 

Children are a blessing. Children are a blessing. Children are a blessing.