062022

Ompong..

Ompong was a made up name which came from sumpong. Since I was a kid, they made it sound a little cute that's why they came up with Ompong. My parents named my tantrums, Ompong when I was a kid.

I can still remember that they used to tease me 'Oh ayan na si Ompong' (Oh no Ompong is here) whenever I throw a tantrum when I was a kid. Other than that, I can't recall why did I throw a tantrum. Well I was just a kid so, I won't even remember.

Anyway, I just want to share how shocked I was when I realized Lil B was already throwing tantrums. A few days ago, I posted an article titled 'Bi-Annual Snap' because I realized that I snapped every 6 months char! I was basically having a motherhood tantrum (let's just call it that).

After my 2nd snap incident I realized one thing. Lil B was already throwing tantrums. I felt like it was too early, that's why I didn't think of it as a tantrum in the first place. How did I know? Because she doesn't act that way a few days before. If you have read my previous article, my mother and I had a fight and that resulted me to still not talk to her until now.

The next day after that incident, the same thing happened and I realized something. She did the exact same cry the following morning then before we go to bed, I decided to bathe her and she did the same thing too. I was talking to my husband at the same time and one thing popped up in my head, was Lil B throwing a tantrum? I was surprised, shocked at her age she already knows how to throw a tantrum. It can't be, it's too early.

Her tantrum trigger? It was the toothbrush. She likes bitting her toothbrush which I let her do but before she does that, I will need to brush her little teeth first and that's where she throws the tantrum. Same cry, same loudness, same actions. Yes, I am pretty positive that it is a tantrum.

My husband researched how to deal with it too. I did research about it too and that's when I confirmed that it was a tantrum.

Here are some indications that a child is a throwing tantrums:

Source

• whining

• crying, screaming, and yelling

• kicking and hitting

• holding their breath

• pushing

• biting

• going limp

• throwing items

• tensing and thrashing their body

Yes, she did all of these. That's why my mother thought that she's crying in a different way and there could be something wrong. Clearly, my mother already forgot how to take care of a baby because all of her kids were grown ups now. But what she did to Lil B was exactly what the Lil B wanted. Lil B got what she wanted by throwing a tantrum, by doing negative things just to seek adult's attention.

All I need to do is to wait for her to calm down but my mother didn't let me. She gave in to Lil B's demands, which is very hard to follow through if you want to teach a child who can't talk yet a little discipline.

I don't want to result to being a naggy, loud mother who always yells to her child. I wanted to practice that, I don't want to turn my frustrations into her that's why I waited. But I can't do that because my mother thought I am mistreating her, as if she didn't hit and almost tried to kill me when I was in gradeschool. I don't want to turn into her. I basically want to be a different mother than she was.

She's growing up too fast.

That I didn't even notice a tantrum is already on its way. Well, the first couple of years of a baby is their fastest development and I shouldn't be surprised but I was.

Ways to respond to a tantrum

• Stay calm

• ignore tantrum

• present other distractions

• comfort

It's just simply not giving in to a tantrum. Staying calm and avoid getting frustrated. Other things, toys, or tv shows for distraction.

I am trying my best to not let my frustrations eat me and show it to Lil B. I know for myself that I may find gentle parenting too hard for me to do because maybe I have anger management issue. No worries, I am trying my best to stay calm and not let anything eat me. I know that this is just a phase, a long phase that I need to adjust, probably a lifelong phase in different ways.

Ompong's going to be back soon and I hope that my mother won't interfere with my methods anymore. I am the one who spends time with Lil B 24/7 and probably knows how she acts more than my mother.

I think I should stand my ground now.