2 yo had MASSIVE tantrum today - did I handle it ok?

[flamingnora]

DD threw a huge, huge wobbly today because I said we had to leave the park. It came out of nowhere and has really unsettled me - mainly because it went on for ages (estimated 15 mins, which felt like days TBH), involved prolonged screaming, buckets of snot & whereas I can usually calm her down by diverting her attention, nothing worked this time. I don't know how well I dealt with it - I simply walked on ahead of her all the way home as she screamed at me and then tried hugging (she was having none of it) and talking to her calmly. I swear it would have gone on even longer had my parents not arrived to provide more welcome distraction.
Any good tips? What should I have done?

I would have done the same thing with my tantruming 2yo.
Interested to see if anyone has any tips.

Sounds fine to me, like you did all the right things. And not actually an overly massive tantrum as 2yos go: you forget the biting, and clawing and screaming-until-vomiting

Well done. it's hard.

mine are only slightly older than yours (5,3)
but I have so far learnt: once you say you're leaving the park. Leave the park. that way you only go through this once( or maybe twice, or three times...)

try and make them laugh. it works with me, if i'm having a strop.

a lot of strops are to do with tiredness or anger. if they are tired being really, really gentle might help, it kind of takes the fuel away. it does with my little one. (not the older one though)

notimetostop - thanks for the tips & reassurance! I, like you, do often try to make her laugh but absolutely nothing was working for me today! Cory & babyOcho - thanks for kind words and much needed perspective! Will stay tuned for other bright ideas, of course!

No bright ideas I'm afraid from me - just relief that I'm not alone... I got a bite on the leg (was a lucky shot) when we had to come indoors and not stay in the sand pit for the rest of time.
I just try to stay calm and firm...sigh - where's my baby gone...