That’s what I said as I stood up from my seat on an airplane recently. The three-or-so-year-old little boy sitting behind me decided to be an annoying little troublemaker on my flight from Grand Rapids to Chicago. I wish I could tell you I was patient—I wasn’t. Frustrated, actually. Dad was calmly saying, “Now stop that. Don’t kick the seat. The man isn’t liking you right now.” Then Dad offers him a bagel. “I TOLD YOU I DON’T LIKE BAGELS,” he said. What do you do when a strong-willed child “goes off”? Sometimes there’s not much you can do, but, when one of my kids threw a fit in a public place, the first thing I said was, “Sorry”—then took them to the bathroom. Sometimes stern conversation or other disciplinary action was required. Whatever you do, do it in private and do it in love.
At least I don’t need a massage.
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