Mary on Scooter with Jacket and Scowl
This photo was taken in the midst of a tantrum on our way to school.  Mary was insisting that she looked ridiculous. What made her say that? She thinks that the jacket is making her look fat.I do not know where she got this “ridiculous” idea. The jacket is not new, she is not fat, nobody has said anything to her prior to this time about her clothes, so why is she saying this?

She wanted the jacket off but, although sunny, it was about 45-degrees F (7-degrees C). The jacket had to stay on.

“You can take it off when we get to school.”

Thought this would pacify her and get that scowl off her face. But, she was determined to stay in this bad mood. Then, I started to get upset. It was not looking like it would be a good morning.

So, we stopped. I dropped down to get on her eye level, took a deep breath, made myself get out of the bad mood and said, “We are going to count to three, then, say “I’m sorry” to each other, look at the sun and all around us— it’s a beautiful morning!— and we are going to have a fun walk this morning, ok?”

It worked, for me, at least. It took Mary a little while longer, until we got on top of the hill and she had walked off her bad mood. By the time we got to school, we were both smiling.

I wanted to have a good day and I wanted her to have a good day and no jacket that does NOT make her look fat will ruin it for us.