All the Tools in the Box

Little Leah can be a little terror! When things don’t go her way, she takes to screaming and thrashing about for 20 minutes or more. At four years of age, she should be able to handle a bit of frustration, but she can’t.

“I’ve tried everything,” laments Leah’s mom. “But she’s getting worse, not better!”

Abba shrugs his shoulders. “I usually walk away,” he says. “If I stick around while she goes through her routine, I tend to get very annoyed. It’s better if I leave.”

Mom feels that leaving Leah while she’s in such distress is form of abandonment. “I stay with her,” she explains. “She always asks me for a hug once she calms down, and I want to be there to give it to her. Also, I read that kids need to know that all of their emotions are okay. When my husband walks out on her, I believe he’s sending the wrong message.”