Have you ever tried to bring a toddler out of a tantrum or heavy duty sulk? A tantrum is usually pretty noisy and the sulk follows on – but some personalities head straight for the sulk. The further ‘in’ they are, the more futile an exercise it is to talk them out. They’re too invested and the coaxing ends pretty badly. Either in a frustrated parent or a win for the sulk – both of which can compound over time if it’s a pattern.
The earlier a sulk is redirected the more likely it is to be set aside and the quicker they can pull themselves back from the brink of a tantrum the more likely it is for more even keeled (if somewhat teary) progress.
The problem is – some of us have been sulking for years and God is no supermarket parent.