When my pregnant belly started showing, friends and family started showing off their parenting knowledge. I was given all sorts of tips and pointers about each phase my child would go through. When the advice hit the toddler stage, everyone was fairly consistent: “Watch out,” they warned. “This stage is exhausting.” My once sweet baby was going to step into a land of tantrums and power struggles over stuff like eating his vegetables and whether or not to pee in a potty. I should prepare now for the heartache and the mess.
As it turns out, I didn’t feel heartache as much as envy. Sure, we dealt with the occasional meltdown, but I watched my toddler experience life with such unfettered joy that I wondered how I could steal a page from his picture book. Somewhere along the way, I’d lost that kid-like enthusiasm. Maybe it was around my 3,729th diaper change or my 571st sleepless night soothing a kid who never slept. Mostly, I just wanted to be like him because there were so many reasons that toddlers were the best.
1. They dance anywhere
Whether my son was boogying down outside in the rain or inside in the bathtub, he’d always dance it out totally free and uninhibited. He could break out into a smooth jazz routine in the middle of the grocery store, while I just broke out into a sweat when he asked me to join him.
2. They have no filter
My toddler always told the truth no matter the consequences. He was honest with friends and family about anything and everything, and this definitely made life more interesting (and hilarious), especially when he told me how tired I looked — every day.
3. Their imagination knows no bounds
My kid could make spaceships out of spoons and a gum wrapper. He saw the positive possibilities in the mundane, and this reminded me that a good ol’ perception shift might be all that’s needed in certain situations. I mean, who knew the dirty laundry pile was a “clothes mountain” waiting to be climbed instead of just a mountain of clothes waiting to be washed.
4. They still believe in magic
For my kid, trees gave hugs, birds carried wishes on their wings, and moms had superpowers that stopped bad dreams. Really, it was my toddler who was magical, and I was happy to spend days wrapped up in the beautiful world he created.
5. Their affection is unchecked
Surprise hugs and exclamations of love happened more often than my kid asked for snacks. His spontaneity and openness of affection reopened my heart and reminded me how to be free when showing love to all those I cared about.
6. They'll try (most) anything once
My son was so new to life that his mind was open to checking out new things. Sample a new vegetable or bedtime ritual? Done! He’d try anything at least once before deciding it wasn’t for him. A good reminder the next time I think about going to that hot new workout class.
I’m happy to report that the initial scary advice concerning my toddler wasn’t exactly correct. Where friends and family did get it right was when they said each childhood phase was different. Each stage contains its own fun times and tricky challenges, but I wouldn’t have skipped the toddler chpater for all the naps in the world. This phase inspired me to shift my outlook for the better, and this gives me hope for all the phases yet to come. So maybe during his tween years we can still find time for grocery store dance breaks and surprise hugs.
A mom can dream, right?
