How to deal with Trump

The "terrible twos" are the worst. But at some point, every parent learns to ignore a spoiled child's emotional outbursts. Otherwise they won't learn to correct themselves. In the middle of the tantrum, a poorly reared or overly indulged child might scream out "I hate you!" or "You never served in Vietnam!"

A young parent, new to the parenting relationship, might be easily triggered by the vehemence or apparent cruelty of the child's words. It's important not to react emotionally or allow the child to trigger one's own insecurities. This is, after all, a child dealing with complex emotions, like frustration, or sleep-deprivation, which their still-developing brain may not yet be wired to handle. Thus the outbursts.

It's important to set limits. Give the child a time out. Communicate that insolent behavior will not be rewarded with increased attention. Do not be triggered by "trigger words" that the child himself may not even fully understand. And always remember, children don't learn what you tell them; they learn from how you tell them.