Here's Betsy of Fluffy Windover's Diary with this week's Toddler Thursday:

We went for Edwin’s checkup the other day (which is a whole other story—the scale is not made of burning hot coals, can you please just stand on it? Jeez.) The doctor was asking questions about Edwin’s development and habits, and she asked if he has lots of temper tantrums. I had to stop and think for a minute. He certainly has many, many episodes of what I suppose are “temper tantrums” daily. But I wouldn’t describe them that way. I would describe them more as emotional breakdowns.

The past few months he has become very weepy. More often than not, when he doesn’t get his way he collapses into a pathetic heap of tears. He’ll often run into my arms and say, “Mommy, I’m sad! Please wipe my tears?” He’s pretty emotionally unstable. I never know when he will turn on the waterworks. Take this morning for example. Upon waking, he asked where Daddy was and I told him he was at work: tears. Then our dog licked his foot: tears. I told him he couldn’t wear his pajamas all day: tears. I told him we were out of pancakes so he’d have to have a waffle: tears. He put his shoes on the wrong feet and discovered they were uncomfortable that way: tears. Oh, and in the car I didn’t turn up the music loud enough: tears (at this point, mine AND his).

So now I find myself typing “my toddler cries over everything” into Google. My very scientific research shows that it is normal at this age. But, I wonder if I’m giving him too much attention when he cries. I am a sucker for that kid, and when he gets sad and runs into my arms of course I kiss him and hug him and comfort him. Even if it’s over something stupid, like our cat sitting on top of his new Highlights magazine (seriously, this was a recent meltdown trigger). Which is why he probably does this so much. I’m going to try a new approach. I’ll tell him that’s it’s OK to cry, and that I understand that he feels sad. But sometimes dogs lick you and shoes are uncomfortable and you have to get dressed and you have to eat a waffle when you really want a pancake. It’s a tough world out there, even for a toddler.