My youngest was throwing a classic all-out hairy fit while visiting family many summers ago. I knew she just needed a nap, so I stuffed her screaming body in her car seat and drove 20 miles to the nearest small town and back again. She never once stopped screaming, that is until I broke into tears of frustration. THAT got her attention, and the fit stopped. Had I known I would have cried much, much earlier.
Mnmom | Homepage | 03.29.08 - 5:42 pm | #

MNMom's comment reminds me of an evening when Genevieve was a colicky newborn (before I realized going on a dairy/chocolate/caffeine fast would cure the screaming). In a desperate attempt to get her to stop crying, I drove from our place on the far east side of town all the way to I-35 and Highway 19, and back, while company was at our house and everyone else was at home playing Scrabble, snacking, and having fun. It took about 40 minutes (I drove slowly), and it didn't work one bit. She screamed the entire way. I just about cried too. However, on this drive back from our Easter visit, although it was totally annoying that no napping was taking place (not that we ever expected it to), we parents in the front seat couldn't stop laughing, hard as we tried, at how hilarious Genevieve's indignant "Uh-UH!"s were. And how poor Julia was trying so hard, and that little upstart baby sis was just intent on causing trouble. What else is new?
Shan | Homepage | 03.29.08 - 6:41 pm | #

One of our twins had a bit of colic, and the only thing that worked was if Daddy held her in the kitchen with the fluorescent lights on. Go figure.
Mnmom | Homepage | 03.29.08 - 11:18 pm | #