5 years olds - comfort or punishment?

My youngest had a soccer class today that involved parent participation. My husband is working this weekend and I couldn’t find a sitter for my 5 year old and had to bring him along. There are other families in the class who allow their older children to help along the younger child, so I let my 5 year old know that that he could help out, but could not fully participate in the class on his own.Of course we get there and everything I said went in one ear and out the other. I kept reminding my oldest of what we discussed but he started to get upset and started crying. I pulled him off to the side to whisper the riot act to him but then the youngest realized we weren’t beside him and started freaking out from across the gym. 5 year old still crying.At this point I realize we are not cut out for this today and decide we should leave. Everyone is still crying on our way out. It was probably not as bad as it seemed to me, but I was mortified. I don’t often have to deal with public meltdowns anymore and forgot how awful it feels.In the car, I told 5 year old no screens for the day. He was upset, told me I ruined his day, etc. and when we got home he went straight to his room with no pushback. I went and checked on him about 15 minutes later and he was still crying and seemed genuinely upset that I was upset with him. At this point I feel terrible for him and we hug and I comfort him. I eventually allow him to watch a show later on.I keep teetering on my thoughts with 5 year old. I am unsure if he is just too young to understand and handle his emotions or if I should be stern to prevent these situations in the future. I feel like a failure to not sticking to my guns while also feel like an asshole for punishing him in the first place. I often feel like I hold him to unreasonable standards but on the other hand 5 is not a baby.What do you guys think - do 5 year old need comfort and forgiveness or strict punishment? Is there a middle ground? What would you have done in this situation? via /r/Parenting https://ift.tt/2T8ALNB