She screamed for 15 minutes straight. 🥺 I stood there, heart racing, trying every calm word I knew. Nothing worked.
I wanted to fix it fast—offer a snack, promise a treat, anything to stop the stares. But each attempt only made me feel more powerless.
Then I remembered: Jesus meets me the same way—seeing my mess, naming my pain, yet holding the line for my good. 🙌
That truth slowed me down. I knelt, named her feelings, kept the boundary. Peace came.
Parenting feels impossible alone. But the gospel changes the way we respond. More on the blog 👇
A Long Afternoon of Tears
It was one of those afternoons when nothing seemed to go as planned. A simple request for a sweet drink turned into a full-blown crisis. The child had asked for Milo before dinner. The father, staying calm, said no. What followed was a meltdown that filled the corridor with echoes of wailing. For fifteen minutes she sat on a sofa and cried while her father stood quietly outside, waiting and watching. Everyone nearby felt the tension and wondered what to do.
Beneath the Tantrum
The outburst wasn’t about Milo alone. At the heart of the storm was something every parent eventually sees: a young heart struggling when life doesn’t bend to its will. Whether it’s a playground closed by rain or a snack denied, the feeling is the same—disappointment and the loss of control. A child’s emotional world is still developing; when desires are blocked, frustration overflows faster than words can keep up.
Three Anchors for Responding
1. Acknowledge the feeling
Instead of a quick “Stop crying,” give words to the child’s emotion: “You feel sad because you can’t have Milo before dinner.” This simple statement validates what is real to the child and avoids the hidden message that feelings must be hidden away.
2. Establish commonality
Children need to know they’re not alone in their disappointment. “Daddy also feels sad when plans are cancelled,” helps them see that frustration is part of everyone’s life. Shared humanity eases isolation and builds trust.
3. Maintain loving boundaries
Empathy does not mean giving in. A firm yet gentle explanation—“We’ll have Milo after dinner so you can still enjoy your meal”—teaches that rules have purpose. Consistency gives children the security they crave, even when they resist it.
Beyond Parenting Tactics
These steps go deeper than technique. They reflect a larger reality about life itself: things often don’t go the way we want. Adults may not cry on a sofa, but we too face plans that unravel and longings that go unmet. The emotions are familiar, only hidden behind quieter faces.
The Gospel’s Transforming View
This experience reminded us of how Jesus meets our own meltdowns. He did not stay distant; He stepped into our world, sharing our human struggles and temptations. He acknowledges our grief, yet lovingly calls us to trust His wisdom. And He promises a day when every painful “no” will find its ultimate “yes” in Him.
Because of the gospel, parenting is more than managing behaviour. It becomes an opportunity to model God’s patient love—to empathize with a child’s disappointment, share our own weakness, and hold firm boundaries for their good. The cross shows us that love and limits can exist together. And as we parent in light of Christ’s love, every small moment of discipline can point a young heart toward the One who truly makes all things new.