Choices

There are many choices to be made when parenting a 2-year-old. Yes, half of the time Randy and I really don't know what we're doing and we wonder if we're doing an ok job. We just take the moments as they come, and hope and pray for the best....

After a nice visit with our family in Springville, I packed the kids in the car and headed for home. Both were in their p.j.'s, Andrew was cozy with his blankie and sippy cup full of milk, and Josh was already half asleep. It was bedtime and so I was looking forward to a nice, quiet drive with two sleeping children in the backseat. We made it to the point of the mountain......then Andrew dropped his sippy cup. This isn't the first time that he's done this, and I'm certain it won't be the last. He let me know that he dropped his sippy cup with a half-whine, half-yell request that I get it for him. I calmly replied, "Sorry, Sweetie, Mommy can't get it right now, you'll have to wait until we get home." Well, to a nap-less, overtired 2-year-old, that response was not going to cut it. He wanted his sippy cup, and he wanted it now! So, in my mind, I had 4 choices to make:

1. Yell at him. Such things like: "WELL, WHAT'D YOU DO THAT FOR?" "YOU'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT!!" "STOPIT!!" In my little experiece as a parent, I've found this to be ineffective and crazy-making. Oh, I've done my fair share of yelling, but it only seems to make the volume increase, and I always feel crummy after.
2. Give him a good swat. I'm 99.9% positive that I can reach him from the driver's seat and with enough leverage to really whack him good. Very tempting, but I know it would'nt make me feel better, and I know it would make him even more upset. Besides, it would also be dangerous while driving.
3. Pull over. A patient parent would probably choose this one. The problem would be solved and we could enjoy the rest of the ride home in peace. But I am stubborn, and besides, what would that teach him? That I'll bail him out of every predicament? I'm sure he didn't intentionally drop the sippy cup, but maybe next time he'll be a little more careful and hang on tight to his things while in the car.
4. Ignore him. Turn up the radio, and hope he'll get over it.

Well, I chose #4-he screamed from the point of the mountain to our freeway exit (about 25 min.). When we got to a stop light, I was able to reach back and get the sippy cup. By the time we got home, all was well, and Andrew was happy and gave me a big hug. We survived yet another tantrum. How Josh slept through it all, I'll never know.