Temper Tantrum

Just got a troubling phone call from my wife. Apparently, my 4-year-old just went on some sort of rampage - throwing things at my wife, scratching her, and yelling and screaming at her. My wife tried sending her to her room, but she wouldn't stay in there. She threatened no TV for the night if she didn't calm down - no luck. She then threatened to keep my daughter home during her aunt's picnic this weekend - this was a BIG threat, mind you, and should have worked..., but it didn't. My wife called asking what she should do, but I didn't really have any answers for her other than, if she continues, try sitting on her until I get home. Our daughter has never done anything like this before and we're not sure what brought it on.

Obviously, it's a cry for attention. Quinn has had to deal with a lot, with all the things going on with her sister. I'm sure it's normal for the oldest child to get upset when a new sibling arrives and gets most of the attention, but when you have a special needs child who has been getting a lot of attention for 2 years now, it's got to be even harder. The thing is, though, it's not like we ignore Quinn. There's no doubt that she was spoiled as a child from the standpoint that she always had a parent with her. She had our attention 100% of the time. Today, she probably still gets more attention from mommy and daddy than most kids. We even try to give her as much 1-on-1 time as possible, meaning either my wife or I will take her out by ourselves - without her sister - to run an errand, visit a friend or get an ice cream.

Does she just have to get used to the fact that we can't give her our undivided attention 24 hours a day? Will she end up on Brat Camp or Dr. Phil someday? Was it the bag of M&M's I bought for her when we were out shopping this afternoon?

Tune in next time..., same brat time..., same brat channel.