Dad sums up toddler tantrums perfectly: "It's like reasoning with a goldfish"

And it's with that in mind, that we think this fab dad, Clint Edwards, is bang on the money with his recent Facebook post.

It starts off pretty funny, when you're only reading it, not living it, that is ?

His 3-year-old little girl Aspen picked up a Peppa Pig backpack in their local book shop that she already had at home (Gosh, that darn pig causes NO END of trouble, doesn't she?).

Clint tried to explain to Aspen that she already owned it, and attempted to make a quick exit from the store.

Which we all know NEVER cuts the mustard with a willful toddler who has their heart set on something...

We'll hand over to Clint to explain exactly what happened next:

Clint's post in full

"Yesterday, we stopped at Barnes & Noble on our way to the swimming pool so Norah (age 7) could pick out a book with her birthday money. Aspen (age 3) found a Peppa Pig backpack on the shelf (a toy she already had at home) and cradled it in her arms like it was her first born.

"She chanted "Peppa" over and over while holding the stupid thing to her chest, swaying side to side, her face soft and sweet. It was the face kids are born with that make a parent melt.

"I explained to her that she already had the same bag at home, but there was no reasoning. She was three. Sometimes it works, but in that moment It felt like I was reasoning with a goldfish.

"Ultimately, she knew what was coming, same as I did.

"I was faced with two decisions as a father. I could buy her a toy she already had, something impractical, but would save her melting down at the store. Or I could take the bag from her and risk an epic meltdown.

"Aspen had a couple choices too. She could listen to her father, and put the thing back. That would be the adult thing to do. But she was three, and making those kinds of decisions was my job to teach her. It was her job to be a turd about it. In the end, we both ended up taking the second option.

"I waited until my wife and kids were finished shopping, then I pried the toy out of her arms, her screaming like I actually removed a limb, me trying not to hurt her, the whole time wondering if she was actually Thor because of her freakishly strong grip.

"I hauled Aspen out of the store underneath my arm, her screaming in a Peppa Pig swimming suit, her legs kicking, my swimming suit falling down, crack showing, but unable to pull it up because my hands were full.

"I got her in the van. I got her calmed down. And once it was all said and done, I looked at her in the backseat, and wondered if I'd done the right thing. I do this a lot as a father.

"Before becoming a parent, I must have seen this scene played out a million and one times in a bazillion stores. But until I had children, I never realized how emotionally draining it is on a parent, nor did a realize that no mater what a parent does in a situation like this, there really is no way to win.

"You are either going to create an expectation that if your child grabs something at the store, you will buy it for them, regardless. This can be particularly difficult for a young child. 3-year-olds just want things.

"I once had to pry a box of condoms out of my 3-year-old son's hands because it happened to be open and he thought they were balloons. No amount of reasoning with Tristan could have calmed him down. It was embarrassing all around. Or you end up disrupting everyone in a 20 mile radius as you work to establish boundaries with your child.

"Yesterday, I reinforced a boundary. I said,"no." I disrupted a quiet bookstore to do it. I got a little embarrassed. But Looking back now, I know I did what was best for Aspen's overall development. It sucked. But I did it.

"Parents make these decisions everyday. And it's never easy. But if you are reading this, and you've faced something similar, I get it. We all do. It sucked, I'm sure. But you most likely did what was best for your child, and that's a wonderful thing."

We've ALL been there, right?

We love that Clint mentions how we just NEVER realise how awful it is for everyone involved until we actually have kids of our own - that's it's not just the embarrassment for us when our kids suddenly have a full on meltdown in public, but how it actually makes us feel as a mum or dad. Powerless, often. Or guilty that it's our fault.

But how being firm and not giving in is nearly always the right decision. If there ever is a right decision when you're trying to reason with a goldfish...

Bravo Clint, we totally get every word you wrote ?

Image: Clint Edwards/Facebook

Read more:

• Tantrum taming home and away
• How to cope when your baby has a meltdown
• Guess how many weeks toddler tantrums add up to?