Hey Heather - I hide all of my meltdowns too. Is there any sensory things that both of you enjoy? For instance - textiles? I just bought these honeycomb like silicone pads (for hot stuff in the kitchen) at Walmart - The funny thing is - I bought them - because of the feeling of them - so soft, and they like suction on to your hands and fingers when you press them. Funnier - is my boys LOVE them too. My oldest said he wants a blanket made out of it! My youngest asked me the other day, why a rubbery haired frog ball we have, feels so soft and good. I have almost every possible type of hand held ball for the feelings of them.

I think, since your daughter is so young - that simple sensory, enjoyable, things might help you both. Like maybe a smell you both like a lot, or music, even visuals, in my experience, can take me from near meltdown, enough to prevent it. These are all things that, in my opinion, you can be any age to enjoy.

Experiment to find what works for you, and her. That is kind of what I have recently been doing here at my house lately, with the kids. I have always been the kind of mom that made the kids stop and smell the roses, mint, grass, and look at the sunsets, clouds, made them feel the first snowflake of the season, look at bugs, birds, plants, and so on. You know that song, from Creed, "with arms wide open"? I use that as my mantra if you will. Honestly listening to the lyrics, make me cry - happy - everytime. Knowing that I sure am trying to show them everything good.

Even if you can ground yourself better - in the moment - it can help her get grounded quicker too. I know that it is super hard. Honestly - I went through it this morning with my youngest. All I can say is that, had I not stopped myself from being engulfed in the whole meltdown, his would not have only lasted 5 minutes. And our day would have been over "like" at 8am. Ugh. And trust me - I am not even sure how I stopped myself this time, or how he recovered so quickly.

I am overly intrigued these days, on ways to find that pleasant sensory quick fix - like smelling something great, or looking at a pretty potted plant (put it behind my sink - and for the first time - no meltdown doing dishes!), listening to great music, having the honeycomb pot holder, at the kitchen table - for no hot pot! Scratch and sniff stickers, seriously considering the weighted blanket. Maybe I am just lucky, that my mind quickly can break a thought process after all, just by a smell, sight or sound. Its a hard, hard, and sharp double edge sword though.

You are very resourcefull though Heather! I know you can make it work!