Warning Label

Over the past several months Addy has become increasingly more prone to sudden and unpredictable meltdowns. I think from the time we get home from work until we put her to bed, both Brian and I are always a little on edge just waiting for when she might fall apart. You never know what might set her off or what might work to bring her back to normal again. It made me think of what a warning label might look like if Addy came with one.

"Warning: this child is prone to instant changes in mood and disposition. First sign is generally a full body thrust backwards. If holding the child while this happens be prepared to catch her before she throws herself on to the ground. If child is on the floor try to protect her from thrusting her head into the floor. Do not take food away from child before she is finished, even if you think since she has not touched the food in several minutes she is probably done. Do not offer milk to child if she does not seem interested, unless you have already tried everything then go back to the milk. Do not start to put toys away while child can see you, even if they are toys she has never shown interest in. Do not take something the child offers you unless you immediately give it back to her, she is not actually sharing, she is just showing you she could share. Do not let child see your phone unless you are prepared to let her play with it. Once phone is in child's hands do not think about taking it away, but also do not offer phone as a way to make child happy if she is in the middle of such tantrum. The phone is only interesting to her if she initiates interest. Same for remote controls, do not try and fool child into thinking an old remote control is as interesting as the real remote control and do not offer real remote control to try and fix tantrum. What worked yesterday to solve tantrum, will not work again on following day. Summary: use extreme caution and handle with great care."