11:21am

So today after a lovely coffee date w some friends, Erin and I went up to Wilkes to pick up some paperwork (NOT changing schools, just getting some evaluations done).  We walked up to the office, down to the counselor’s office and back to the office.  Erin had had enough of the walking thing.  I picked up the paperwork and we were heading out to the parking lot and Erin wanted to be carried.  We weren’t too far away, so I told her she needed to walk. Then all hell broke loose…the tantrum started (click if you want a snippet of it).  Screaming at the top of her lungs and generally hysterical.  At this point, I know it would have been really easy to pick her up and carry her to the car (what she wanted) but in the long run I know that if I did that, it would set a pattern of her knowing she can pitch a fit and I cave.  Not going to work that way.
Anyhow, as I was sitting there waiting out the tantrum, I had a few very different experiences.  One woman came up and said “Oh, I feel your pain.  We were in the same spot doing the same thing for 25 minutes just last

12:08pm

week.  Hang in there.”
Another person (who I know) said, “I wish I had done this when my son was little”
At this point we were going on 25 minutes of screaming, I am filling out the paperwork I was planning on taking home, there was no end in sight.
So then, one by one, came the moms who didn’t say anything but rather gave the disapproving “my kid would never do this in public” look that always makes me furious.  I end up wanting to cave, pick up my girl and take her to the car and end the embarrassment.  But today I stood my ground.  Another came by, again the look.  And yet another.
We were at the 45 minute mark (and keep in mind, this isn’t just a little crying, it’s SCREAMING at the top of her lungs).
I finished up my paperwork and a friend came walking out of the school.  So nice to see a friendly, sympathetic face.  As we talked, Erin came over, climbed up next to me and put her head on my shoulder.  One hour later and the tantrum had ended.  We walked the completed papers back to the office, she asked again to be picked up and I stood firm, told her we could walk together and I would hold her hand.  I braced myself for another hour long tantrum, but miracle of all miracles…she grabbed my hand and walked to the car.  Sigh.  Being a mom is tough business (even tougher with the holier than thou attitudes of those with have perfect kids who seem to hate how I parent).