Really need advice please - the tears are flowing and they're mine.

[babyblue2]

Just got back from the school run with DD2 (2.7). She doesn't particularly enjoy the pm run but today we had no time to spare, she refused to get out of the car, screaming at me, kept my cool and got her out to carry her to school all the while she's screaming and shouting at the top of her voice, hitting me, pulling my hair, throwing her favourite toy on the floor. I turned her away from me carrying her and she just kicked at me, still screaming. Someone asked me if I was alright and I just burst into tears and couldn't stop. I felt like the whole playground was looking at me. We're now home and she's oblivious to whats wrong with me. I don't know what to say to her, the moment (for her) has passed. Any help?

Well done for keeping your cool. It's a tantrum. You've handled it perfectly. People might look for most with children they will be looking on in sympathy remembering when theirs were like that or relieved that their child isn't acting up at the moment.
She won't think anything of it now. Don't be upset by that. It's her age and to her you are invincible. When you get a chance tell her it's not very nice and it made you sad. Next school run remind her and say you are both going to be nice to each other and not make each other sad. (or something along those lines).
Always remember - other people have been there. It's not unusual. Take a deep breath and believe this stage will pass.

I have no advise, just my sympathy adn understandin. I have a challenging 2.6 year old, who always manages to do the most inapropriate thing at the most inopertune time

Oh no bless you,
I feel for you when you say everyone appears to be staring, this has happened to me recently while out and no doubt happened to many of us, but this doesn't help!

Ds (2.5)used to have a habit of screaming when out at top of his voice for no reason but to get my attention. I had to ignore him totally which was so hard, but the stage has passed.

Thanks, i'm annoyed, she usually plays up but not that much. I think she knows she's done wrong because she's come to apologise, which has made me cry now. Only one day to go and then school holidays so no school runs. Thanks again.

Make yourself a cuppa and have a soak in the bath later

Oh I know how upsetting these situations are. Similar thing happened once with my ds2 when he refused to get into the buggy when I was collecting ds1 from school. Bursting into tears is fine IMO, I'm sure lots of other mothers would remember and understand. At least you didn't lose your temper, which I know I might have done.

Perhaps in future you could bribe her, promise a sweet/choc/fave prog for when she gets home.

Oh i've used bribery and carried it out when she hasn't complied. I've put reins on her which stopped her from running off and I think i'll have to resort back to it to regain some control. Whatever happens though she's always crying at some point during the pm school run and I just feel as though everyone thinks i've got the child from hell, when really she's quite a good girl the majority of the day.

Don't worry about everyone else in the playground looking at you as most of them will have been there too at some point. Myds1(5) comes out of school angry every day and every day I get stares (you'd think they'd be used to it now!) and I too have burst into tears. At 2/3 he was nothing like this so hopefully it's just a phase.
Hang in there