the honey badger strikes again.

When Cameron is sweet, she is the absolute sweetest little girl you ever did meet. Really and truly – sugar and spice and everything nice, rot your teeth sweet. But, she can also throw a king-hell-tantrum that would put any tantrum you have ever witnessed to shame. I’m not kidding – even Max (who I thought had the market cornered on meltdowns) stands back and looks impressed. As her screaming escalates, that look becomes incredulous, followed by concerned, and finally he turns to me as if to say “can you make her stop mom, this shit is getting old!”.

This week, for whatever reason, 2 out of 3 mornings Cameron has decided to have a tantrum just as we are attempting to leave the house. Shoes and socks go flying, she attempts to pinch and scratch anyone within reach, and she basically behaves like a little beast. It’s a lot of fun (right up there with a kick in the face). Since she recently moved up to the preschool room at daycare, her new teachers are not yet accustomed to Cameron “the honey badger” Carefoot. On Monday, as I unceremoniously dumped a screaming Cameron on the carpet and placed her shoes and socks next to her, the head teacher asked me “why is she upset?” I looked at her, paused and replied “because she is 2, and 2 year olds get upset sometimes. Let her work it out – she’ll be fine in 5 minutes, I promise”.

Rinse, repeat – today, same scenario. Again, the head teacher asked me “why is she upset?” I told her “she didn’t want to come here today. And she’s 2.” That wasn’t a good enough answer, so I was asked again “no, but why is she upset? They know why they are upset”. Sweet jesus on a trampoline. “Oh yeah – she didn’t want us to brush her teeth. And she’s 2”. I turned and left. As I walked to my car I got super pissed. This teacher works with 2 YEAR OLDS. She of all people should know that sometimes they just behave like little jerks and throw tantrums as a way of expressing their general displeasure with our economy, healthcare system, and lack of adequate public transit. I decided to speak with the daycare director, who is really awesome, so I figured she would at least humour me.

I poked my head in her office and asked her if she had a minute, and then gave her a run down of the situation. My basic request was that the teacher not look at me like I am the worse parent in the world, and that it probably didn’t help Cam calm down if her pacifier was unceremoniously ripped out of her mouth the moment she entered the classroom (no soo-soo rule in preschool). Also, the same question, every day was bordering on ridiculous and also I have a kid with Autism sitting in my car, and I really don’t need this. My point – Cameron is a penniless dwarf with zero control of her life – of course she is going to throw the odd tantrum to attempt to exert some control over her wee universe. That is why. The director said she would address it, and that she would ensure I no longer get looked at like I’m a dirtbag mom and asked why my 2 year old is acting like a 2 year old. Though I fully expect that from now on I will be flipped the bird as I exit. I’m okay with that. As long as they don’t teach Cameron how to do it.