Inspired by the Meltdown thread: How do people react when your child has a meltdown

[isyne4u]

I was reading the same thread that MushyMushy read on the Theme Parks board about the kids and tantrums/meltdowns.

While I was reading it I thought about one time when my ds was 3 and he started having a tantrum/meltdown/fit whatever name you want to call it. We were in the passage way in adventureland where the restrooms are and he was refusing to go where I told him or do what I told him..something like that i don't remember the details exactly. What I do remember is that he became violent and started to throw things and hit me so I ended up wrapping my arms and legs around him in a bear hug so he couldn't flail about. Well, people in the passage were giving me these looks of "how could you do that to a child" and "how can you have a child act like that". I wanted to crawl into the floor and die (I think I ended up crying in a bathroom later because I had such a demonic child! lol!)

But it upset me that I got so many headshakes and tongue clicking because of how my child was behaving. So I'm wondering what reactions you have had and how you react to it. I ran away and cried later...but did you find better ways to deal with it?

thanks!
tara

Ps. we later discovered that ds had some sensory integration problems as well as severe anxiety and adhd...thank goodness for good drugs now!!

 

[Cool-Beans]

If meltdowns are the same as temper tantrums, I don't know. There were times I had to hold flailing arms and legs in, too. It was all I could do to hold them in while hauling them out. Didn't have time to look around at any looks that might have been coming my way.

I'm sorry if the kids bothered people, but I did the best I could.

 

[MushyMushy]

I've gotten stares from them being disruptive, and have actually been glared at as I was removing them from the situation. Hellooooo! I'm doing you a favor here!

Anyway, when I see a meltdown, I stare. I can't help it and I don't mean to make the situation uncomfortable, but it does capture my attention. When I see that the parent is struggling, I'll give a supportive smile. I definitely try not to show any negative emotion, like when the parent is doing nothing.

 

[isyne4u]

Anyway, when I see a meltdown, I stare. I can't help it and I don't mean to make the situation uncomfortable, but it does capture my attention.

sort of like some of the dis train wrecks that occur here quite frequently.

I try and give a supportive smile or hang in there look to parents. I'm usually thinking "thank goodness mine isn't the one doing it!"