Maybe she thinks you are fine just the way you are, Edith Ann.

One time, see, Barbie Swanson stole my skate key. And she would not give it back. So I fell down and I screamed and kicked and yelled and cried and hit the grass and screamed and yelled and cried and then I got up and got some chalk and wrote on the sidewalk in front of her house that she had my skate key and she had to give it back. My mother came and got me and took me to the doctor and nobody did nothing about getting me back my skate key and then that stupid doctor said my blood sugar was low and he gave me some orange juice which was nice but it was not my skate key. My mother said all the skate keys looked the same and that Barbie had hers but that she did not have mine, which just shows you what grownups know about ANYTHING! I wanted to fall down and scream and kick some more, but I did not want to find out what else she would do if I did that. Maybe you could drink some orange juice and if you are still mad, then you should pound on your pillow.

Edith Ann: I have an Aunt Kiki who likes to tell light bulb jokes. She has one about sigh kite a crests. She said I’ll understand when I get older. I dunno, I’m the one who has to put the new one into the Tinkerbell lamp in my room whenever it burns out. I like doing it because I can always see clearer when I flip the switch. Your feelings doctor sounds just like lots of grown-ups I know. And hey, if you don’t like orange juice, there’s always a root beer float.

Go ahead Edith Ann (when I was little I used to think your name was Eat-a-fan) you yellandscreamandrollonthefloor all you want, its important for little girls to know that being frustrated and angry is OK and if a tantrum relieves your stress all the more good for you. Your good doctor is a wise woman. She knows what is good for little girls who will grow up to be fantastic women. Why am not surprised that she IS a woman? Brava Dr. Lopez! Our ‘Eat-a-fan’ is just perfect as she is tamtrums and all. I just want that big rocking chair so badly and that’s the truth prrrt……

Oh miss Edith, You have described my Dr. listenalot. The gift of a good ear goes well beyond Van Gogh!

Pssst, Edith Ann, secret over here. The lady doctor knows that tantrums are energy that need a new outlet and a sign of frustration that needs affirmation. Things aren’t always fair and when that happens it can make smart girls mad enough to put sand in the sandwiches instead of just old oatmeal and p-nut butter on top of the salami. Remember when you did that Edith Ann? That was funny. In our society men can get mad and blow apart frogs for fun and they”ll make him president so he can blow apart other countries. Females supposed to seem mad, but that’s why some get sick because they keep it in. Edith Ann…your other friends here are right. You are a very good girl. Just don’t flip at a Kerry rally or the Phoenix Airport, OK? When you’re a little older we’ll tell you why. It has to do with these words: “Don’t Taz me, Bro.”

Edith Ann, you go right ahead and get mad if that is the way you feel. If you need anybody to talk to I will be right here. your friend Carol.

Hey Edith Ann, It’s OK if you feel angry sometimes. If you get so mad that you feel like pitching a fit, it’s probably better not to do that around your mom. My cousin Barbara used to pitch a fit in the grocery store sometimes if she wanted something and her mommy said no. My mom told me that if I ever did that she would give me a whipping. I never did pitch a fit in the grocery store because when my mom gave you a whipping, she really gave you a whipping! Then, if you cried she would say to stop that or she would REALLY give you something to cry about! I didn’t want to find out what that was so I learned to shut up! It’s better to get your mad out because it will give you a tummy ache when you grow up if you don’t. It’s OK to pitch a fit too; just don’t do it around where your mom can see! You can beat up your pillow if you feel like hitting because that won’t hurt anybody. You can get a diary and write all about how you feel. That always made me feel better only I found out that my mom was reading my diary. So, I wrote about how I felt about my mom and how I felt about people who read other people’s secret thoughts. She couldn’t give me a whipping for that because then she would have to tell my dad that she read my diary. It was a good way for me to vent. Venting is a grown-up word for pitching a fit. You will be OK Edith Ann if you learn that being angry is normal. Normal is another grown-up word and I can’t tell you what that means because nobody has figured it out yet. Your friend, Hedda

Dear Edith Ann. I could learn a lot from you. My tantrum vocabulary only has one word in it: clam up. My feelings doctor is helping me learn that I won’t blow up, die, or end the world if I express my anger. Heh. Funny what stories we tell ourselves sometimes. See ya later, alligator, but not in the elevator.

I didn’t throw tantrums when I was Edith Ann’s age (i.e. small enuf for that chair) - but I learned to throw them later - Ironically, in some situations, like HMOs, they can be an effective TOOL. Ha!

By the way, Barbie Swanson wants everyone to know she DID NOT steal my skate key and because her mother brought her up right, she was gracious enough to let me use hers so we could go skating together.

Edith Ann, don’t worry, i think you are talking to your mom, because she is the only person in the world who knows everything you think and do. Thats ok, because she is also the only person in the world who loves you forever uncondiionlally

Edith Ann, my advice is this: Count very slowly to 10. As the numbers get higher let your voice become louder. Everyone knows what’s coming and they should clear the room by the time you reach 10. It saves you from using your voice too much and you get your point across. For most of it though, it doesn’t pay to get up on your hind legs, so to speak, and yell in someone’s face. Counting gets the point across and you maintain your little ladylike reputation. Joan Mullaney