That escalated quickly

I don't understand children.

The little girl who was so charming at the beginning of the week had turned somewhat monstrous by the end of it; she was clearly loving the space in the house, the slide-worthy wooden floors, the cats, and yet the tantrums grew more and more frequent if she was curtailed in any way. Her parents cajoled, bribed, threatened with 'Aunty Debbie will not invite you back to her house if you do this,' (a base lie!) or even more desperately, 'the cats will not like you anymore...'

What did she scream about? Not being allowed to endlessly bug the cats. Having her hair touched in any way. Not having her hair done when she wanted.Having her nose cleaned. Having her face washed. Putting her coat on. Putting her hood up. Being put in the buggy at all. Not being carried when she wanted. Being carried when she didn't want. Hearing the word 'No.' Indeed she reached the point where I swear she knew she only had to pitch a scream to get what she wanted, or to remove what she didn't want.

I have never had children so can't really comment, only to say that her father had the reputation of being the most spoilt child in the entire family, hopelessly indulged in every way, and here he has grown into a lovely and loving responsible father and husband, so 'spare the rod and spoil the child,'isn't always true. But it doesn't make for an easy life. I couldn't do it.