Charlie O'Brien blog: Thomas the Tank Engine and toddler tantrums

Before becoming a parent I had some pretty set ideas about child-rearing that were quite frankly – naïve and ridiculous! I think everyone does.

Pre baby: My child was only going to eat organic food

Post baby: I’m lucky now if he eats a chip

Pre baby: We were going to have plenty of date nights as a couple

Post baby: We’ve had two in 21 months

Pre baby: I wouldn’t use bribery as a way to deal with tantrums

Post baby: I’ve started using bribery as a way to deal with tantrums!

Yep – yesterday I found myself in Mothercare dealing with hoards of shoppers staring at me while Noah had the mother of all meltdowns.

We were in there as a family looking to buy a second car seat and I stupidly took Noah to look at the toys while my husband Jay chatted to an assistant.

I should know by now to steer Noah well clear of the Thomas The Tank Engine section because he is OBSESSED.

He has a train in his hands at all times and it has really become a source of comfort for him as well as fun. He takes two to bed every night and has a Thomas night-light as well as a duvet set!

Of course he wasn’t content with just having a look and walking away. The tears came, followed by screaming, gagging, arching his back and finally throwing himself on the floor.

'In the end I couldn’t bare the stares anymore so I caved in and took a £13.99 lump of plastic to the till'

The showdown was real and he had NO intention of stopping, despite me offering a drink, a rice cake, hugs and other distractions.

I’m pretty ashamed of myself! In the end I couldn’t bare the stares anymore so I caved in and took a £13.99 lump of Thomas plastic to the till.

If I’m allowing a one year old to wear me down with pester power already, what will I be doing when he’s three and four? I know it’s important that I nip this sort of thing in the bud sooner rather than later, but I just get in such a flap when he’s tantruming and everyone’s looking!

What do you do in this situation?

Charlie x

Read Charlie's review of a Day out with Thomas on the Spa Valley Railway here