Temper tantrums

While Ashley was recovering from her bout of fever+cold, she was really cranky and whiny. Worse still, she threw alot of temper tantrums. A minor minor thing tt doesn't go her way would evolve into a major temper tantrum with her throwing her toys around, rolling on the floor, shouting/screaming, face turning puffy n red. And the main cause of her temper tantrum is asking me to carry her. She would want me to carry her all the time and this is just not possible as i hv chores to do. So when i don't accede to her demand or tell her to wait while i finish my chore, she would fly into a tantrum.

The first day we experienced that, we were very harsh on her, scolding and ignoring her and i made her stand in her noti corner. As i learned later, it was such a wrong reaction to the temper tantrums bcos Ashley had bad dreams that nite. And I knew it was related to the day's events bcos even in her dream state, she was crying out loud "妈咪，抱抱". No matter how much i comforted her, patted her, she just continued to whine n cry every 30mins or so, in her dream-groggy state. This lasted till abt 2am in the nite. By this time, she was fully awake due to the restless sleep she had. I comforted her n asked her whether she wants milk (as she drank vv little for her last feed). She nodded yes. So, i brought her to the living room. She finished the whole bottle of milk. And after tt, i asked her whether she wants to go to bed. She said no, so i carried her on my lap, sat on the sofa and sang softly to her. Until abt 3am, i asked her again if she wants to go to bed. She nodded yes. I patted her and she finally fell into comfort slumberland at about 3.30am.

The 2nd day was a repeat of the previous day's situation, making me question whether it's her TT stage, at the same time, hoping it's not. Then, i chanced upon a parenting show on TV which was discussing temper tantrums and how to deal with it. The bottomline i learnt from the parents and experts on the show was lots of TLC. So, wif tt in mind, i changed tactic n whenever Ashley displayed temper tantrum, i was vv patient with her (tho i had always hv to pinch myself not to snap at her :-p), talked and comforted her. Tt nite, she did make abit of mumbling in her sleep for a short while, but it was not the crying/whining kind. It stopped after a while n she continued sleeping until morning.

On the 3rd day, i was fearful tt the temper tantrums would continue. But it didn't. Ashley was back to her old self - cheery n playful. (keeping my fingers crossed!!!)

In retrospect, i think she was feeling lousy over the running nose and medicine we gave. It's a parenting lesson for me too. Not all temper tantrums need to be dealt harshly. Some tantrums occur bcos a child is not feeling well and rather than stern scoldings, a child needs TLC, lots of it.

P/S: I was very angry at Alan on the 1st nite bcos i was up most of the nite, comforting and caring for Ashley alone. My dear man there continued to sleep like a log. When i "interrogate" him a couple of days later, his answer was "Ashley doesn't want me." MEN!!! U can't live wif them, and U can't live without them!