My toddler spilled a large glass of water in a fit of anger. I didn’t lose my cool. Instead, I asked her to get me something to clean it up. She brought me this. “Here, mommy.”

I thanked my toddler for being such a good helper, and explained that it was not enough to clean the water.

So in this situation, here’s what you do.

I went into the pantry and closed the door behind me. I grabbed a role of paper towels, rolled my self in them from head to toe, and when my toddler least expected it, I jumped out and said in a high pitched voice, “Hello little girl, I am the paper towel fairy. I am here to clean the water up. Can you help me?”

I included a short theatrical song and dance number, which is optional.

Water got cleaned up. I prevented a downward spiral. But now I have to put $5 under her pillow from the friggin paper towel fairy.