Your child is not an adult. You must stop thinking like this👇🏻

Yesterday, I came back after a week outside the house. My family was in quarantine, and I was forced to stay outside to work. I imagined coming back home while my eldest daughter ran into me, arms open. Instead, she was being witty.

After a bit, she told me: "Dad, I want cheese!"

The dinner was almost ready. We didn't want her to skip the meal.

My answer was: "No, you can't have it". Then, after asking twice more, she started to cry, hiding under the table. At that moment, I thought about how this was disturbing me: "She must stop this tantrum". You can imagine what could be the continuation.

Instead, I decided to be gentle.

Here is what to do instead of arguing:

❌ Don't tell her not to cry

✅ I squatted down, legs crossed and showed her a safe place to feel accepted. It was a weird sensation to let space for a tantrum.

Eventually, she came and snuggled up to me, crying out loud.

👁 Observe her and show a different focus

I began to sing a repeated melody, using small creativity. I sang about a sweet girl, sitting on her father's knee, asking for some more. Slowly, she turned down the volume and started listening to the story, so I repeated it.

✋🏻Keep the limit, accept that she does not understand it: she knows that you are there for her

When she was calm, she asked again for cheese. I repeated the no. But now she knew I was there for her, which was enough. We finished laughing, and little tickle ended up making her very happy.

Love your child without any condition, she will observe your example.