Mother of Meltdowns

Every Mom knows that eventually there will be a time in their child's life that they just meltdown, throw a tantrum...go berserk. There will be fits of anger, crying, kicking and screaming.

Tonight...we needed to go to the store for a few things so I took the boys up to the corner market to get them...we walked because I thought it would help them spend some extra energy. On the way there I prepared them for the fact that we were going to get what we needed and no extras. Gunnar and Odin both seemed to grasp that concept.

We got to the store, gathered up what we needed and went to the checkout. We know the cashier fairly well...she knows the boys names, and we chat from time to time at my work. She offered the boys a tic tac, Gunnar's favorite candy...to which they caved and said yes in unison. Then Gunnar asked if we could buy some tic tacs to which I said no.

First came the tears...crocodile tears. These tears are designed to make your heart melt and thusly your brain to say yes.

Second the foot stomping...Since the tears didn't work, well, you left me choice but to publicly shame you into saying yes.

I did not cave in. I took him firmly by the hand and did my best to start the walk back to the house. The good walk down a busy street...with a child that was now chanting and screaming TIC TACS at the top of his lungs.

Then came the lunging...like an untrained pit bull on a leash...it was all I could do to keep him from pulling us all into the street. Thankfully, Odin was merrily playing in the grass as we walked down the street.

We stopped, I tried to compose myself...the screaming got louder. I tried to lift him...he has dead weight down pat now.

I managed to drag him to the corner of our street before he started trying to throw himself on the ground. I did my best to do the, "Well I'm walking away" strategy, but with Odin...it was difficult. I ushered Odin halfway across the street and told him to go get Daddy quickly.

Justin apparently was in the shower...so I had to endure on my own. I lost it...I started crying, Odin was crying, Gunnar was screaming...I just wanted this to be over.

After a lot of pulling, screaming, and finally a dead lift...I got Gunnar safely in the house. He went berserk...looks like a tornado was isolated to my first floor. He picked up everything that he could lift to throw, crumpled up bills, tore up homework...he was just as destructive as he could be.

5 minutes later, the tears had dried, the screaming stopped...it was as if nothing had happened. He said that he was better and then gave Odin a hug.

What is that?!