Funny, I can feel the feelings of this urge, as I read. (Disclaimer: I am not actually a toddler.)
I can’t dissect my feelings fully, but I think a large part is feeling the anticipation of shame/failure from the whole thing going wrong (e.g. the whole cup of dog food falling out) and as long as you haven’t completed the task, that threat stays there. Spilling a few pieces draws attention to that threat - presumably to warn yourself off it. Throwing the whole thing down gives a wonderful relief: there is no more threat, no more striving for what might not be; what’s done is done. But after that, with the stress gone and the relief come, you feel the clearness to start again.
Thanks for this.
But I’m going to take away one key piece of advice:
“I’m here, and you can hug the crocodile.”
Taking my kids to the zoo tomorrow, wish me luck!