Tantrum-Turn-Around

Today’s moment of beauty could have very easily gone the other way.  It started with a tantrum.  Actually, let me go back a little further.  It really started when my son Christian wanted to go for a walk.  What that means in our house is that we start the process of getting Christian ready to walk in his walker, which we affectionately call his “car.”  First I find some tall socks and put them on him followed by his “magic boots” (a pair of orthopedic braces that keep his knees from locking) and finally his shoes.  I then put Christian into the harness in his walker and assist him by pushing, pulling, or ideally motivating him to walk on his own.  Christian has recently gotten the idea that he can move himself in his walker by pushing himself forward.  He has gotten very good at walking short distances to knock things over or move towards someone he is excited to see.  If we put him on a small incline he can really get some speed and is delighted.  Problems can arise, however, when Christian wants to get somewhere and he can’t maneuver the walker enough (he hasn’t gotten to the point of turning yet) or I simply don’t understand what he wants.  This can lead to a full on melt down of frustration.  Today Christian was headed there.  He started to yell “No, no, no!” any time I tried to direct the car and threw himself backward.  Luckily he is strapped in and so can’t hurt himself.  Usually in this situation I will take him out of the walker immediately and try to calm him down.  Often he ends up in time-out and the whole exercise is a wash.  Today was different.  Christian responded to my question of “What do you want to do?” and calmed himself down!  “Outside” he said through muffled tears.  I explained we had to go park the “car” first and then we could go outside.  Christian walked very well to the area designated as his parking space and, smiling, gave me a high five for walking all the way there.  We went outside and played on the slide and proceeded to have a wonderful morning.  This tantrum-turn-around amazed me and the glimpse of the big boy Christian is becoming was my something beautiful.