you can't always get what you want.

It's a tough lesson to be learned: you can't always get what you want. You know that, I know that, and hopefully Claire knows that now, as well.

I haven't been feeling well over the past few days, so it's taken me a little longer to get moving in the mornings. I was doing some things in the kitchen this morning before leaving to take Claire to daycare, and she was perched at the kitchen window checking out the scene in the backyard.

What started as a whimper turned into a full blown temper tantrum. Why? A squirrel. It's always the squirrels' fault. At least in our house anyway... If I hadn't been preparing to leave the house 10 minutes later, I would have let Claire go into the backyard to go chase it. But to be honest I was feeling sick, needed to get to work, and didn't have the head or the time for it today.

Claire's reaction was like that of a 2-year-old child's when they are told that they can't have cookies for dinner. She had an absolute meltdown. I tried to lure her away from the window with a venison treat, but that didn't work. Then I tried soothing her. That didn't work either. Then I tried scolding her. Nope. To make matters worse, her response to my many attempts was to get so frustrated that she started barking. AT ME.

I did what any mother would do when their child is throwing a massive and prolonged temper tantrum: I shut myself in the bathroom. Sure enough, after a few seconds, the barking and screeching stopped. I heard her come over to the bathroom door. She stood there for a second, then slid to the floor and sighed. Isn't it amazing to see what happens when the audience is taken away from such a performance?

I opened the door and when I asked if she was done with her meltdown, I was greeted with kisses and a wagging tail. It was like it never happened. I grabbed our things, leashed her up, and off we went.

Claire learned a hard lesson today. We came out a little frazzled, but were otherwise okay. Though now we BOTH have a vendetta against those squirrels...