As I crouch down to mop up the tile floor with a kitchen towel, wiping away the water my 2 and 3-year-olds have joyfully splashed everywhere by repeatedly dropping their cups, one thought echoes in my mind: “What on earth is wrong with you?” This isn’t the first time today I’ve had this thought, and I doubt it will be the last. Each day, I silently restrain myself from expressing my frustration aloud, as this mantra reverberates in my head. The last thing I want is for my articulate 3-year-old to stroll into her preschool classroom and innocently ask her teacher, “What on earth is wrong with you?” That would definitely land me on the top of the prayer list for parents in need of guidance.
Really, though. What is going on with toddlers? As my 2-year-old throws himself back in his car seat, wailing as if I’m inflicting harm on him, I think, What is wrong with you? I walk into a room to find my diaper-less toddler, proudly displaying a hand covered in feces, using my white wall as a canvas for his “art”. My eyes widen, and I can almost feel them pop out of my head like something out of an old cartoon, but my mind is still racing: What is wrong with you?
Then there’s my 3-year-old, who joyfully calls from the bathroom, claiming she’s gone potty “all by herself.” Upon entering, I find her squatting in a puddle of pee on the floor next to the toilet. I clutch my hair (no wonder it’s thinning) and bite my tongue, trying to suppress the urge to scream “What on earth is wrong with you?!”
I struggle to comprehend these little beings whose daily mission seems to be wreaking havoc in my home like miniature Tasmanian devils, leaving chaos in their wake. My jeans and leggings are starting to wear out at the knees from the countless hours I spend cleaning up after them—every single day.
At first, I thought it was just my children. Perhaps they were uniquely challenging, or maybe I had consumed too much caffeine during my pregnancy. However, after spending time with other toddlers, I’ve realized they all exhibit these “What is going on?” moments. Every child does things that make us wonder, “What is wrong with you?” and some of us even have the courage to voice these thoughts.
I consider myself a capable person who can usually handle life’s challenges. I have survived the experience of raising two children under two while battling postpartum depression and still managed to retain a fragment of my sanity. I like to think of myself as a seasoned mother. Yet, despite my ability to keep two little ones alive and care for myself, I still haven’t unlocked the mystery behind toddler behavior. Perhaps it’s one of those life enigmas that remains unresolved. Maybe one day, a scientist will uncover the truth I seek. Until that day arrives, I’ll continue to ponder, multiple times each day, just what is going on with toddlers?
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Summary
This article explores the perplexities of toddler behavior, highlighting the daily challenges faced by parents. It reflects on the frustration and humor that accompany raising young children, while acknowledging that these experiences are common among many families.
Keyphrase: toddler behavior
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