So today was the first official day of the girl’s spring break.  We are planning a camping trip for the next few days and today was the shopping day to get all the stuff we needed for the trip (plus the shoes to go with their Easter dresses).  So I knew it was going to be a long day with little fun for the girls.  It started out well, but by the time we are in the last store, Vera was fussy and cranky.  I knew this was the longest of the shopping trips so was prepared for it to be rough. 

We were in the camping section, buying some new supplies when Vera, who had been walking, finally ran my patience out.  I picked her up off the floor (where she was pitching a fit) and placed her in the seat of the basket.  She calmed down a little but was still grumpy.  We walked to the next isle and she saw a picture on one of the camping supplies of a man with mud all over his face. 

The next thing I knew her mood had completely changed.  She wasn’t whining, or being cranky.  Her whole demeanor had changed.  I looked at her and asked her what had changed.  She said that it was the man with the mud on his face.  He had made her laugh.  So I asked her if that was the key to turning around her mood, making her laugh.  She said yes a made a funny face.

Later in the store when she started to get cranky again, I made a funny face at her and asked if that fixed her mood.  She smiled and her mood was better again.

Note to self…when Vera is whiny or cranky, bring out the funny faces (or rub mud all over it).  Hmm, think I will stick with the first one unless I am desperate.