Meltdown with a Capital M

We started our attempts to potty train Tiny yesterday (more on the thought process behind that decision and implementation later). So, today was day two, and just like yesterday, I let Tiny spend most of the morning diaper free. However, unlike yesterday, today she completely freaked out and had a major, MAJOR meltdown when I went to put a diaper on her just before lunch.

Tiny had just had a successful attempt on the potty (YAY!) and I explained to her that I was now going to put her diaper on so she could eat lunch and then be all ready for nap time, which immediately follows. Diaper changes before lunch have been a part of our routine for a while now, so I didn’t think it would be that big of a deal. Oh, but it was. Tiny’s response went something like this, “No, no, no, no, no, no, no! No diaper! NO!” followed by just a lot of kicking and screaming. She was hitting me as I did my best to get the diaper fastened around her little bum, and started clawing at the diaper as soon as I had it on.

I quickly pulled up her pants, thinking once it was all said and done, she’d calm down. But, of course, I just couldn’t be that lucky today. Because although Tiny was now okay with having her diaper on, she had, at some point during that tantrum, decided that she needed to have her socks and shoes on. And here’s the kicker: she had to put them on by herself (hmmmm…. can’t say I wasn’t warned about this phase.) More screaming and more crying erupted as it became crystal clear that Tiny just wasn’t capable of such a task. I tried to help, but that (as I’m sure you already know) was not in the least bit helpful.

I tried to cuddle her and clam her, I tried walking away, I tried talking matter-of-factly about the situation, but the tantrum continued on for a good 25-30 minutes. Finally, I just put her in her high chair and plopped her lunch in front of her. She remained unsatisfied.

Just as I was about to start lunch clean up, she requested Cheez-Its in a pink bowl. Now, generally, I go by the philosophy that you get what you get at mealtimes, and you either eat it or you don’t. But this didn’t seem like too big of a request, so I caved. And oh how magical that little pink bowl of Cheez-Its turned out to be. The screaming and crying ceased, and just like that, she was my cheerful, little Tiny again. Whoa!

Tiny happily ate her crackers and then proceeded to eat a bit of her lunch as well. I kept waiting for the tantrum to resume, but it never did. Lunchtime ended, we read books, and Tiny and Buba went down for their naps just as they always do.