Test of Wills

My parents tell me a story of when I was a young kid:

I was misbehaving, and my father told me to behave. To express my displeasure, I got down on hands and knees and banged my head on the floor (gently). My father gave me a little swat on the bum, and told me not to do that.

I banged my head a little harder. He swatted a little harder.

The escalation continued until I'd had enough, at which point I WHACKED my head against the floor, stood up and looked at him, then turned and walked away. Guess I showed him!

Well, Alexander shows a similar stubborn streak. He started screaming angrily about something the other day (with a murderous look in his eye), and I'd had enough. We *never* give him what he wants when he's screaming, so you'd think he'd already have learned that it's a waste of effort, but I think part of it is an outlet for his frustration at his inability to explain what he wants...not that that's a good enough reason for a tantrum.

I took him to the corner, and explained that when he was ready to talk I would let him go and we could leave the corner. 40 minutes later, after struggling with me THE ENTIRE TIME, he literally was so exhausted that he passed out in my arms. Several times during the episode, I asked him if he could stop crying. He would say "mm-hmm" and immediately stop crying (like a switch had been thrown). When I then asked him if he was ready to talk so we could leave the corner, he started screaming again. He knows I'm serious when I tell him behavior is unacceptable, and I know he'll learn that this doesn't work. That day cannot come soon enough!