TANTRUMS!

I was at the gym today when I heard a little kid crying. He didn’t want to take a shower before going swimming. He was sobbing so intensely, but he managed to respond to a sweet question from his mom.  She said something like, “Do you want to go swimming with me?” His answer came bubbling out through his tears – “UH HUH.”  It was adorable. His tears weren’t from pain or fear—just pure frustration and resistance. And then, just like that, he was gently comforted and calmed. I couldn’t help but smile.

It reminded me of a time I saw a couple arguing on the street - maybe partners, maybe husband and wife. She was livid, yelling at him right there in public. At one point, she got so angry she took off her shoe and hurled it at him. I don’t know what happened between them - maybe she overreacted, maybe he had it coming - but what stayed with me was her complete lack of inhibition. She wasn’t holding back. She didn’t care who was watching.

Part of me envies that kind of raw emotional honesty - having the freedom to fully feel something and express it openly, without restraint - whether it’s joy, frustration, or sorrow. I know throwing a tantrum, especially in public, breaks all kinds of social norms. Still, there’s something oddly admirable about being completely in the moment—unfiltered, unguarded, and unconcerned with judgment.