temper, temper

What's the best way to handle a child's tantrum?

1. Begin playing tuba solos very loudly to drown out the noise
2. Use the crying for a new answering machine message
3. Psychoanalyze the child, focusing on his relationship with his mother
4. In a calm, quiet voice no one can hear, explain why tantrums are wrong
5. Record the tantrum as a sound wave and e-mail it to a friend

Actually, we have discovered with our foster son that one of the most effective ways to discipline him is to cover his eyes.

For the first two years of his life, Isaac's primary means of stimulation was visual, since no one ever talked to him or took an interest in his development. He hates it when we cover his eyes, so that's become one of our preferred discipline techniques: Behave, or we won't let you see for a minute or two.