to think my small rug-rat was the one

[MoonlightandRoses]

being unreasonable in refusing to do anything but whinge to be picked up, and then immediately put back down again every, single, sodding step of the twenty minute hour long journey home from nursery today?

It felt a bit like a 'cutted up pear' episode, but with added backache...

I would strap her in & keep her in there whinging her head off, plowing ahead in one direction, no turning back, she's only allowed out if she makes steady progress.

On a Nice-Parent day I would tell let her dawdle outside for stretches as long as she didn't reverse.

On a Saintly-Parent day I would invent a game for getting her there under her own steam, say she could stop at every lamp-post, or a chase game for us to play en route (am not having a saintly parent day, but can't quite be that inventive right now). And still bring the pushchair in case I reverted to Normal Parent state of mind & couldn't stand dawdling any longer.

Have you considered cycling with her in a seat? Gets everyone around a lot faster!

Hmm, not sure I've even achieved 'Nice-Parent' yet, and you say there's another level after that?