The toddler years test every parent’s mettle, blending joy with jaw-dropping defiance. Bollywood star Ishita Dutta navigates this with grace, drawing from real-life battles with her spirited son Vayu, now two-and-a-half.
This age marks a milestone: kids crave control, demanding to self-feed, self-dress, self-everything. Success brings pride; failure unleashes a torrent of tears and rage—the infamous meltdown phase.
Ishita experimented widely. Strictness backfired. Yelling amplified drama. Persuasion bounced off. Desperation led to her own sobs. ‘I learned meltdowns demand presence, not performance,’ she reflects.
Picture this: Vayu in full meltdown mode. Ishita doesn’t intervene aggressively. She sits close, soothes with ‘All good, I’m here,’ and grants time to self-soothe. It’s about reassurance over resolution, rebuilding shattered trust.
Proactive parenting shines in her daily hacks. Forget barking orders—present palatable choices. Dinner dilemma? ‘Me feed or you try chunks?’ Wardrobe wars? ‘Red shirt or blue?’ Kids gain agency, parents guide discreetly.
‘Control stays with us, disguised as freedom,’ Ishita says. Vayu now tackles tasks with gusto, tantrums fading. Her advice redefines success: not flawless days, but resilient bonds. For overwhelmed parents, it’s a roadmap to peace amid the pandemonium.