| Parenting Through Tantrums Cry for Connection: A Fresh Approach to Tantrums by Patty Wipfler As we approach the "terrible twos" our original Wee Willie Winks has become quite the ball of emotions, opinions and objections. I have found myself feeling frustrated and confused as to how to reach him, help him and in some cases control where he's directing all of these strong emotions. There have been days when I really didn't think I had the skills to parent through this time in our lives. I worried that at some point I too would "snap" from all of the craziness that has invaded our peaceful world. Well this morning I came across a wonderful article that has been truly life-changing. The article is about parenting through tantrums. That's right, parenting through them, not preventing them. It talks about the value in tantrums as an "emotional sneeze" that a child uses to clear blocked or confusing emotions. It then gives steps to help you become closer to your child as the tantrum approaches, comfort and protect them as it progresses and connect with them when they come out of it. Dax just had a tantrum and I followed the steps and he in turn behaved just as the article said he would. I felt empowered as a mother to be able to help him during this time of learning and emotional adjustment. The other wonderful thing is I didn't have any of the feelings of anger, resentment, or frustration that I've had in the past when he isn't behaving "properly". This article has been life-changing for me. Please check it out via the link above and visit the author's website at Hand in Hand Parenting | 
