Is It Just My Kid or…?

Toddler Tantrum Survival Guide

Let me paint you a picture:

We’re in Target. Life is good. I’m feeling confident. My toddler is quietly eating snackers in the cart seat, and I’m thinking, Wow, maybe I’ve figured this mom thing out.

Then we turn down the cereal aisle. I say “no” to the neon marshmallow sugar explosion he points to. Suddenly, he is possessed by the spirit of chaos. Snackers fly. Screams erupt. People stare like I’m on an episode of Toddlers Gone Wild.

Is it just my kid?

No. No, it’s not. Let’s survive this madness together.

The Toddler Tantrum Triggers Hall of Fame

Let’s list a few things that have caused a meltdown in our home this week:

I peeled his banana the “wrong way”
His sock had “a feeling”
I dared to call him in for supper
The wind existed
He wanted the blue cup, but also, how dare I give him the blue cup?!

I wouldn’t let him lick the shopping cart
His shadow was following him
I cut his sandwich into triangles instead of squares (or vice versa, I already forgot. He forgot too.)
I wouldn’t let him eat ChapStick
I looked at him “funny”
I wouldn’t let him stick a crayon in the wall socket
His toy was too red
His pants were “whispering at him” (???)
I wouldn’t let him wear 7 shirts at once
He couldn’t bring snow to his bed
I flushed the toilet “without asking him first”
The bubbles popped before he could count them
I looked at him when he was mad… and also when I didn’t look at him
He dropped his snack and gravity is my fault
I gave his baby sibling a hug first
I said "hhhmm" instead of "okay"
The moon wasn’t out when he wanted to say goodnight to it
...…and approximately 100 more things that defy logic, science, and the emotional limits of a fully grown adult... Me.

What’s Actually Going On in Their Tiny, Chaotic Brains?

Toddlers are like tiny drunk philosophers: wildly emotional, brutally honest, and completely unpredictable. Their brains are still developing logic, patience, and literally how to be a human.

This doesn’t make the tantrums less loud, but it does explain why your toddler is crying over a granola bar they asked for, then rejected with a sobbing “NO, NOT THAT ONE!”

Toddler Tantrum Survival Tips (That Might Actually Work)

1. The Calm Voice Trick

Even if your child is flailing like a fish out of water, pretend you're auditioning for a meditation app. Breathe. Speak slowly. Bonus: it freaks them out just enough to distract them.

2. Snacks = Bribes = Sanity

I keep an emergency stash of snacks that would make a monkey jealous. No shame. Jelly beans have saved lives.

3. The “Oh No” Echo

Instead of saying “You’re fine” (which triggers my kid like a nuclear launch code), I try: “Oh no, that’s really frustrating!” They feel seen. Plus, I get to pretend I’m all understanding.

4. Public Meltdown Protocol

Own it. Smile politely at strangers like, Yes, this is my child, and yes, I will still be bringing them home later. We’ve all been there. The judgmental stares? Probably from people who raised goldfish, not toddlers.

Is It Just My Kid…?

No, friend. It’s not. They all do this. Somewhere right now, another parent is hiding in their pantry eating chocolate chips while their toddler screams at a light switch.

This Too Shall Pass (and Then They’ll Be Teenagers 😅)

Tantrums are awful, hilarious, exhausting, and weirdly magical. They mean your little human is learning how to feel, think, and navigate a world that doesn’t always give them the red cup.

You’re not alone. You’re not a bad parent. And your kid is not a terror… most of the time.

What’s the weirdest thing your toddler ever lost their mind over? Drop it in the comments so I know it’s not just mine losing it over a crumb touching his pancake!