Meltdown averted :)

Yesterday I took L and E to the local Children's Museum.  We had a wonderful time exploring and playing with all the exhibits and activities...that is until about 15 minutes before it was time to go home.  L said she wanted to go to a different part of the museum and I told her that I was sorry but we didn't have time because we had to leave in 15 minutes.  Well, she sat down on the floor, took a big breath and was about to create a little scene so I knelt down beside her and quietly told her that if she started crying, we were leaving immediately.  She looked surprised, got up and went back to playing nicely until it was time to leave.   Whew!  A  mini crisis averted.

It isn't always that easy but you can often defuse a potential explosion if you are quick to cut if off before it has a chance to fully develop.  Calm and quiet speak louder than tense and angry.  Oh, and be prepared to follow through with what you say.  I was quite ready to take her outside if she ignored me  and she knew it.  We had a great time the rest of the day.