I think that the best way to experience a toddler is with an open mind, a good sense of humor, and a high tolerance for spontaneity. If you can maintain these qualities....it can be quite...entertaining at times.
Like the time you pick up your 8-month-old to discover he has become the canvas for her latest masterpiece. You could get angry, stressed out, and reiterate the rules of proper marker use for the 50th time...or, you could keep the baby's outfit in hopes to sell it on e-bay at a later date as your future famous artist's first creative work of art and make a killing off of it.
Or as the family sits down for dinner, and your toddler refuses to take off her brightly colored Backyardigans bike helmet. You could struggle with a pointless argument that ends up in tears...or, you could use it as a teaching point for the older children by proving that fighting at the table is, indeed, a dangerous road to tred upon, and without proper precaution, those over-cooked rolls could become a useful disciplinary device when launched by an adept parent.
Or when you walk in the living room to discover that she has used every last baby wipe to help you "clean" everything from the entertainment center to the windows. You could stress out and lecture her on the amount of waste she has created, not to mention the streaks on your windows...or you could thank her for relieving you of a chore and bask in the smell of clean baby and newly found privacy created by blurring the view from the windows (just make sure you have extra wipes stored away for such occasions...one of the reasons we buy wipes in bulk.)
The key is to view things in a positive light. It will save you a few gray hairs and new lines on your face...not to mention, hey, free entertainment. Remember...it only lasts a few years. If you can endure Dora yelling in your home, food going to waste (good for compost!,) and the constant use of the word "NO!," then you will find that this period of time can be quite humorous...and a learning experience for both you and your child. It is imperative, wait....hold on....
If you'll excuse me, I need to contend with a toddler in a bright orange bathing suit who thinks she's going swimming...outside...in 50-degree weather...at 8:30 in the morning.
((sigh))
I completely agree with you! It's kind of sad that I just figured that out with the last one. I try so hard to enjoy every little moment. AW now I'm getting all sad, this is the last kid I get to watch learn something super simple (that we take for granted) and enjoy it. Like the other night Ladon was trying to hard to button his own shirt. He didn't want help, it took forever. At least he had clothes on, his latest thing is to run around naked rubbing his butt on things.. on purpose!
ReplyDelete