Well everyone talked about the terrible twos. Honestly, we’re freshly out of them and I don’t think they are anywhere as challenging as living with a Threenager. The exertion of independence, alongside with trying to keep them safe, can be hard for anyone to handle. As moms, I’ve come to realize that we’re extra hard on ourselves. When our child falls or gets a bump, we take it personally as it is our fault, even when it is of no fault of ours. I’ve seen this happen a few times and my hubby can brush it off as an accident happened and I see it as I wasn’t doing my job to protect her. Now I am a rational thinker but when it comes to our kids, why are we so tough on ourselves?
Toddler life is tough! There I said it. There is nothing easy about running around all day with a mini person who wants to show you who is boss. Who doesn’t want to sit in a carriage but is tired when you make them walk the whole way to the park and doesn’t want to do anything when you get there but go home (being held of course). Then there is their imagination. I love seeing what the kid will come up with next. Whether she has her stuffed animals in a circle for a tea party, is using her magnetic tiles to build homes for the Pat Patrol team or is taking the Barbies for a ride in her pretend car (aka the carpet on the living room floor), she uses her daily experiences to bring these items to life. She tells stories and takes them on adventures daily. A simple walk can bring on a ton of inspiration. The bugs we stopped to check on as we were walking. The birds that flew overhead as we passed by the large tree on the corner of the street. Even the dog barking inside the house as they heard us walking by.
Every night before the kid goes to sleep I ask her what was the best part of her day. Obviously we ask this question earlier in the day but there is something about those last few moments before the night draws to a close that she seems to be more free with the information. Sometimes it includes something we did together, usually it includes something with daddy and/or her schoolmates. It is great to be able to hear about things that I was not a part of and find out more about her day. It is as we reflect that I realize my baby definitely isn’t a baby anymore. She is growing into an amazing little person right before my eyes and no matter how hard the toddler days are, and let me tell you, we’ve had our fair share of HARD ones, I wouldn’t change it for the world.