Catching the Magic

Travels in New Zealand and beyond, going back to 2003!

Menu
  • Home
  • About
  • Blasts from the past
  • Country Kids
  • Motherhood
  • Poetry
    • 2011 Poetry
    • 2012 Poetry
    • 2013 Poetry
    • 2014 Poetry
    • 2015 Poetry
    • 2016 Poetry
    • 2017-2018 Poetry
  • Travel
    • Auckland
    • Fiordland
    • Kapiti Coast
    • Nelson, Tasman, Marlborough & Canterbury
    • Otago, Queenstown, Wanaka & Southern Lakes
    • Taupo, Rotorua & Tongariro National Park
    • Wairarapa
    • Byron Bay and the Gold Coast (2005 and 2016)
    • Californian Adventures, 2013-14
    • Canada, Dec. 2018
    • Cook Islands
    • Copenhagen, July & August 2014
    • Japan
    • Singapore
    • Sydney
    • UK Visits from 2014 to 2022
    • England via Santa Barbara & San Francisco, 2012
    • England via San Francisco – July 2007
    • NZ to UK, with our 9 month old, 2004
  • Running
  • Special Days
Menu

My First PDT

Posted on March 28, 2006November 27, 2009 by BritMumInNZ

Today, I had my first PDT (Public Display Tantrum). One tired toddler (slept 9 hours last night) hit the floor in central library and put on an all kicking, head-banging, arm thrashing display. She wanted to load up all the books on the counter for the lady to scan (but there were lots of books and someone waiting behind us). After Charlotte started to procrastinate on passing the books up I intervened (BIG MISTAKE).

Well meaning librarians tried to come to the rescue (I had one hungry baby in my arms, so couldn’t do much!), but I knew no amount of help was going to help. It was one major tantrum that was going to have to run it’s course. The security guard was laughing, but I knew if I didn’t get the tantrum under control I’d be at risk of being barred from the library for breaking the peace! It wasn’t one of those moments to reach for the camera, for posterity’s sake (though in hind-sight it would have been quite funny!).

In the end I had to tuck Charlotte under my arm, carry Sophie over the other shoulder, and manouevre the buggy to the lift and down to the carpark. Once in the car Charlotte started to calm down. I managed to get them both in the carseat (after having fed Sophie and Charlotte wetting herself in the car).

Charlotte kept asking, over and over and over again, for ‘Brum’ CD (did she really deserve her choice of music?!). After requesting, with a tear-stained face, for 10 minutes, I relented, on condition she stop crying. Thankfully, the crying stopped and she listened to me and did say sorry (though I doubt she really understood what she was apologising for, if indeed she understands the true meaning of the word ‘sorry’).

Finally, two children asleep, I pulled in for a take-away latte and sat, with a black-cloud consuming my entire being, wondering why I took this job on!

I just had to remember the good times, like yesterday morning, when we walked in the rain at Princess Bay, looking in the rock pools and pretending there was hidden treasure and Pirate Ships on the horizon. We saw the most stunning rainbow and it felt like we were walking in a dream.

Here’s hoping it’s a long time before I experience another PDT!

Related posts

  • Jealousy and Affection: Sophie’s Nearly Two!October 30, 2007 Jealousy and Affection: Sophie’s Nearly Two!
  • Daddy’s back & a ‘Run’ for Lyrical SundayApril 17, 2012 Daddy’s back & a ‘Run’ for Lyrical Sunday
  • Wedding New Zealand StyleDecember 17, 2012 Wedding New Zealand Style
  • Sunday Fun on Wellington’s WaterfrontApril 23, 2007 Sunday Fun on Wellington’s Waterfront
  • FrustrationAugust 15, 2006 Frustration
  • North-east Cornwall holiday snapshots (part 2)September 3, 2022 North-east Cornwall holiday snapshots (part 2)
Category: Sarah

Post navigation

← Evening slumbers
Lake Taupo. Simply Stunning. →
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Pinterest

Archives

Recent Posts

  • A holiday in paradise – ten blissful days in Rarotonga, in the beautiful Cook Islands. August 8, 2023
  • Marlborough Food & Wine Festival Birthday Celebration August 7, 2023
  • A few running events to kick off the year & a sub-4 PB at the Rotorua Marathon! May 10, 2023
  • Auckland mid-week break away for Harry Styles! April 4, 2023
  • Celebrating a Birthday with a Meerkat Encounter! March 30, 2023
  • Summer holiday in Rotorua & Taupo March 29, 2023
  • Christmas and a Birthday in Wellington January 12, 2023
  • Summer highlights from the Wairarapa January 8, 2023
  • A long weekend with friends near Goat Island Marine Reserve January 6, 2023
  • It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas – southern hemisphere style! December 23, 2022
  • Wellington Lantern Festival – in the spring rain December 18, 2022
  • Toast Martinborough – Wine and Food Festival December 16, 2022

Things I Write About

Art (100) autumn (42) Baking (37) beach (67) Birthday (51) birthday party (31) breastfeeding (29) cafes (46) christmas (70) Country Kids (59) family (115) family time (57) featured (34) friends (38) Garden (43) holiday (36) Holidays (131) Lyall Bay (47) Lyrical Sunday (68) milestones (62) motherhood (37) New Zealand (38) parenting (36) photography (39) poem (69) poetry (92) running (57) Santa Barbara (32) school (75) school holidays (49) seasons (45) Silent Sunday (51) sisters (29) sleep (35) spring (38) summer (60) swimming (28) the gallery (62) Things I'm Loving (118) UK (30) Walks (47) weather (34) Wellington (137) winter (42) writing (50)

Poetry

Follow Sarah's board Poetry by Sarah Lee on Pinterest.
20 Of The Best Expat Blogs To Follow In 2017

Related posts

  • Jealousy and Affection: Sophie’s Nearly Two!October 30, 2007 Jealousy and Affection: Sophie’s Nearly Two!
  • Daddy’s back & a ‘Run’ for Lyrical SundayApril 17, 2012 Daddy’s back & a ‘Run’ for Lyrical Sunday
  • Wedding New Zealand StyleDecember 17, 2012 Wedding New Zealand Style
  • Sunday Fun on Wellington’s WaterfrontApril 23, 2007 Sunday Fun on Wellington’s Waterfront
  • FrustrationAugust 15, 2006 Frustration
  • North-east Cornwall holiday snapshots (part 2)September 3, 2022 North-east Cornwall holiday snapshots (part 2)
© 2023 Catching the Magic | Powered by Minimalist Blog WordPress Theme