Counting Backwards from 100

This blog entry is not cute… or funny, well… maybe a little because most of my friends have laughed while I have reenacted each situation! These past few weeks have been very intense for me. I have dealt with tantrums nearly every day for the past two weeks, the only days that I have not dealt with a tantrum are when she is with her parents or out with another family. The last two days have been extremely difficult. I have been yelled at, screamed at, slapped, kicked, and threatened. It has been rough. I will describe yesterday’s incident just to give you a little glimpse. I actually documented this incident for her social worker and also recorded my interaction with her so my tone and voice can be heard. I try to stay very calm with her, but sometimes… I do want to “yoke her!” I don’t… but believe me… I want to so bad! LOL!

Yesterday when I went to pick my little one up from aftercare, she came out of the house not her bouncy self… but still came up to me and gave me a hug. She asked me if I had food for her in the car and I told her I did not since we are going straight home for dinner. She then asked if she could watch a movie when we got home, again… I had to tell her no because I was having people over that night, so we wouldn’t have enough time to watch a movie. She persisted in asking…. over and over again. I calmly told her that my answer was the same and that continuing to ask will not change it. She then started to get louder… I told her if she was able to calm herself down obey and behave, I will allow her to watch the movie when she came home from school the next day. She immediately screamed, “I DON’T WANT TO WATCH TOMORROW… I WANT TO WATCH A MOVIE TODAY!!” I again told her that we couldn’t watch a movie today and because she is choosing not to obey and to be disrespectful, she will not be able to watch television both that day and tomorrow. She started screaming and yelling, “I WANT TO WATCH MY SHOW!!” She then proceeded to kick my drivers chair and scream while I was driving. I told her to stop kicking my chair because that is dangerous (I was recording at this time). She continued to kick my chair and scream as we drove down the road. As we pulled into my community, she unbuckled her seat belt and started to get out of her chair. She taunted me saying, “Look… I am out of my chair!” I told her to sit back down and buckle up… but she wouldn’t budge. When I pulled into the driveway, she would not get out of the car. So, I walked towards the house… she still didn’t move, so I went in the house to put my stuff down. I came back outside and she started screaming… “YOU LEFT ME IN THE CAR!!” over and over again. I told her I asked her to get out of the car and she didn’t and those are the only two options. I told her I was not going to stand outside all night. So, I repeatedly asked her to get out of the car please and each time was returned with… “you left me in the car!!” I finally had enough and picked her up and removed her from the car. She then proceeded to slap and kick me while screaming. When she got into the house, she stayed in the entry way for around 20 minutes. I came in, went upstairs and ate my dinner. When she eventually came upstairs, she looked at me and started crying about how she lost her headband at school. I asked her if that’s what made her upset and explained if it was, that was not my fault and she should not speak to me that way. I had her apologize and I went and made her dinner.

So, you would think that is the end right…. wrong! While eating dinner she turns around like the events of just a few minutes ago NEVER happened and asked me sweetly, “Can I watch my shows?” I told her no and asked if she recalled how she had behaved earlier that day. That sent her into a all out tantrum. She started yelling, “I WANT TO WATCH MY SHOW!!” I said to her that even if she was allowed to watch her show, screaming at me would not be the correct way to ask. She then told me she would not eat and pushed her plate almost off the table. I told her that was fine and walked over to the table and picked up her plate. She then got mad and pushed her place mat and water off the table. When I didn’t flinch, she then pushed the table… broke it… and every thing slid off (it’s a card table… she is too small to sit at my bar stool table).  So I then told her that it was time for her to take a shower. She started screaming “NO!” I told her then she had to go to bed. She screamed, “I WANT TO EAT MY FOOD!” I told her she needed to go get it out of the kitchen herself. **Side note, I really wanted to throw her food in the trash when she pushed it… but I decided not to at the last minute** She looked at me and said, “NO YOU GO GET IT” she actually yelled that to me. I told her if she wanted to eat, that she needed to go get her plate because I was not the one who tried to push it onto the floor. She kept screaming for me to go get it… I did not budge. She eventually got up and got her plate and was walking like a snail back to the table. I told her she only had four more minutes to eat (when she started the tantrum I told her in 10 minutes she was going to the shower regardless if she was finished or not) so she better hurry back to the table.

After she finished eating… she looked at me cheerily and asked for more food. I told her no, it was time for a bath. She was happy after that… like a  light switched on and off and on again. It was so strange.

I have an initial intake for therapy for her on Monday. She has had 3 therapist during the four months she has been with me… and I always feel like we get nowhere. Hopefully this new place will be able to help her work through whatever feelings are on the inside. Because really… I can not take this everyday. I was going to title this blog entry, “I Love Her… but Do I Like Her?” but a friend of mine suggested that I change it… LOL! Thanks Cynthia!

Moms, aunts, foster moms, teachers dads too… how do you deal with your child’s tantrums? Any tips?

Author: Clarise_C

Hi! My name is Clarise. I'm currently going through the process of becoming a foster parent. I started this blog to share my journey with readers. I am not a writer, an expert on parenting, or even a parent... but so many folks have asked questions, I thought I would share. I am also an avid runner, nutrition coach and devoted Sunday school teacher (which is where I learn most of my patience with preschooler's :-)). I also work for a small agency called the VA. I hope you enjoy! View all posts by Clarise_C