funny how it comes down to basics

We see this scenario played out over and over again. A family on a day trip, or at the store, or perhaps the park. Maybe they are relatives visiting. Or maybe they are at a public gathering like a fair or concert. It doesn’t really matter where.

The point is that the family has become the center of attention because the toddler has lost it. Screaming at the top of his or her lungs to the dismay of both parents and the horror of any older siblings who would give anything to simply disappear into the floor to get away from the public scrutiny, the toddler has unleashed a force to compensate for the lack of language. The only problem is that once that button has been pushed, it’s pretty hard to find the reset button.

Now that our daughter is entering her full toddler potential, the lessons learned from our initial journey with her older brother come back quick. Note to self: to avoid the above scene, three essentials must be always be met. No schedule, no errand, nor family function can interfere with these: hunger, thirst, and the need for rest. Insure these are satisfied and it’s clear sailing. Let one of these balls drop and the result is predictable… an a capella aria that can start a stampede.