Winter arrived in the Sea to Sky Corridor last weekend like a sucker punch to the ribs — from sunshine to torrential downpour. So did my daughter's temper.

Parenting is all fun and games until your child develops an opinion, at which point all hell breaks loose.

My sweet 16-month-old daughter can go from sweet lovely baby to angry little screamer in one second flat, simply because it's time to change her foul-smelling diaper. She believes that flinging items from her toy box is a much better use of her time. There is no negotiating with "angry little screamer," whose sole communication technique is throwing herself on the floor in a heap of tears.

In an effort to relieve the tension in the room, I start cracking jokes. Generally that doesn't work so I revert to dancing and singing like a monkey. It's not a perfect solution but it seems to help "angry little screamer" calm down.

Before I was a parent, I had it all figured out. When I saw a mom suffering through her child's temper tantrum at the grocery store. I'd smile sympathetically, knowing that I would never lose control of my children like that. When I had my own kids, they would be perfect little angels thanks to my superior mothering instincts and skills.

Now that "angry little screamer" has taken up residence in my house, I am humbled. Isn't it funny how things change when we actually have a tiny stubborn human in our lives?

The rain in Whistler is a lot like a toddler's temper tantrum. It means there's snow in the mountains. There's hope and the temper can be tamed.

There's no magic formula, but here are some tactics I gathered from other moms on how to discipline your toddler. I dance like a monkey.

Avoid stressful situations

My daughter literally loses her mind when she is either hungry or tired. She pulls her ears, starts biting other innocent children and wobbles around like a drunken sailor. The best thing I can do is keep my child fed and rested.

I've started packing snacks when we leave the house in case meltdown occurs. If screaming starts, stuff a cookie in it.

Think like a toddler

Toddlers aren’t mini-adults. They have trouble understanding many of the things we take for granted, like how to follow directions and behave appropriately. Try to see the situation from your child’s perspective and help prevent a tantrum.

Try Distraction

Again we go back to the monkey dance. Quickly and calmly get him or her interested in another activity. Shake that booty and magic will happen.

Fake it until you make it

I hear it from every mom I talk to. No one really knows what we are doing. I've learned that raising mini humans is not a one-size-fits-all kind of job. If you see me in the grocery store, flapping around like a monkey while my toddler cries, don't judge. Your future kids will scream too, no matter what you tell yourself.

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