What is this? What is that?
My peas fell on the floor
Answer me, pick them up
More, more, MORE
I want to walk, I’m too tired
I don’t want to go to bed
Mum and Dad why don’t you
Understand what’s in my head?
It’s too hot, it’s too cold
You’re so full of contradictions
As a parent I must work
On my power of predictions
To understand just what it is
That is making you go nuts
My word, this was easier
When it was more milk or cleaning butts
I know that you are tired
I know you want to play
But do you really have to tantrum
Every, single, day
It turns out that prediction
Isn’t what I need
It’s something a bit more playful
That’s helping me succeed
As you throw yourself to the ground
For the umpteenth time today
I make a funny noise
I roll around and play
I pretend to be on the news
To answer all your questions
And if that doesn’t work
I make some more suggestions
I redirect you to the birds
Flying over head
Or we count the spoonfuls
Of whatever you’re being fed
Your soft toys all have voices now
They tell you how they feel
We listen to them together
And then we help them heal
I start to ask you questions back
If I still can’t calm you down
What’s your favorite, dogs or cats?
And thought replaces frown
When your feelings get too much for you
I’ve learnt that the best interaction
Is to engage you, in what I call
The art of distraction
