Wow. What an interesting discussion.
I was surprised when logic worked on a meltdown, since I tried it as a last resort.
Okay, just want to note here that I am now terrified of age 4, which has always been my favorite age for kids. LOL
I had been and still am quite fond of 4 in *other* people's children. It was just that when my DS was 4, he definitely targeted me as the reason for all his woes. He was fine with everyone else. He was realizing that I wasn't omnipotent and he resented that. I remember one particularly breakdown that occured when I "refused" to put back together a potato chip that had fallen on the floor and been stepped on.
He kept screaming, "put it back to together" and pounding me with his little fists
. We went in to time out. I went with him because it was a very public place he continued to hit me in time out. DH got free from what he as doing and came to help. As I left, DS became all smiles and within seconds after I left, he was fine and rejoined the party. There is no doubt in my mind that this was personal--it was all about me!
