Troubled?  Verbalize – or,

Learning from 3-year-olds

By Shlomo Maital   

     Sometimes, we seniors can learn from Gen X and Y parents. 

     What do you do when a three-year-old has a nuclear meltown/tantrum?  And you don’t know what the cause is, or what to do?  

      Verbalize.  “Use your words,” our grandson’s mom tells him.  “Say it in words.”

       Three-year-olds can talk.  And sometimes, they can say what is bothering them, clearly enough so we can find a remedy. 

        Now, what about us adults?  Maybe we don’t have such melt-down H-bomb tantrums – but we do get the sulks, the blues, the downs and the ‘leave-me-alones’.

         Verbalize.  Ask yourself, as you would ask the 3-year-old:  Hey, verbalize.  Say it in words.  What is your problem?  What is troubling you?   Sometimes, stating the cause can help find the cure.  Often, verbalizing is tough…. Takes some deep soul-searching.  That’s a good exercise.

        I looked up some research on tantrum suppression.  Mostly, it stated: Ignore it. If you don’t reward a tantrum, it won’t recur.

        Oh, yeah?   That scholar probably doesn’t know many three-year-olds.  And wow, can they ever sustain a tantrum…seems to last forever.

         For kids:  Verbalize.  Tell us in words.  At worst, it can stop the 150-decibel screams.  And at best, we can find an answer.  Verbalize — For ourselves, for our own tantrums, as well.