The sound of sin dying

When I was still living at home, about four years ago, a young couple at church with their two young children, began teaching me how to parent. They did not do this intentionally, or even consciously, but they did indeed add to what I had learnt from mum. One night after church, the mum had just informed her toddler boy of a fact he did not seem impressed with. I think it may have been "We need to go home now" when the boy had been enjoying himself with his grown up friends. The result of this was the most enormous tantrum, one of the screaming child needing to be carried out. It was so large and so unexpected that most people turned to see what the matter was. His mum looked around and said apologetically "This is the sound of sin dying".

I have liked that description of tantrums and I think it has helped me when my various charges have busted a wobbly in public. While waiting for one of the kids at dancing, a friend was talking about the tantrum that would erupt from her boy if he found out that lollipops had been consumed without him. I said "We might hear the sound of sin dying?" She seemed confused so I quickly explained about the mum back home and she laughed and agreed that it was good.

WHEN a child in your care chucks a tantrum in a public place, like church, a park, the library, the shops, at the traffic lights, at the beach, at grandparents house, at a friends house, at bedtime, when visitors are over, at dinnertime, bathtime, lunchtime, breakfast time, teeth cleaning time, bible study time, school time, home time. Just remember that it is the sound of sin dying and ALL other adults are backing you up to not give in. They would almost always rather let the child scream his way out of the library then for you to give in. I have had several people make impressed noises and give sympathetic glances when I am dealing with a tantrum.

There is one thing that gets up my nose, that is people who see a screaming child, clearly in your care, and ask what the matter is. This is never helpful as it interrupts the course of the tantrum and either freaks the child out, or gives her undeserved sympathy. When I was dealing with such a tantrum at school, a "helpful" mother asked my little girl what was the matter. I felt unwilling to explain and, being less intelligent and less Godly then my friend said "Oh don't worry, these are tears of happiness". It was a stupid careless thing to say. I hope to next time say "This is the sound of Sin dying"