The Things Our Toddlers Do To Drive Us Crazy

by Heather Long | More from this Blogger

24 Aug 2006 10:30 AM

Toddlers are people, too or so we tell ourselves whenever they exhibit unique personality traits. What do I mean by unique personality traits? I mean the things they do that help define their personality as well as their outlook on the world around them. They aren't really trying to make you crazy, despite all appearances to the contrary.

So what are the things that our toddlers do that drive us crazy?

• Food Toss - Your toddler enjoys eating their food, for sure - but they also love throwing it around because they love the texture of it and they love to see what happens to it when they toss it. If they are into the food toss, chances are they done with eating it - so it's not a bad idea to go ahead and take away their ammunition
• Television Hypnosis - When my husband was a toddler, his mother details how he would be captured by the commercials with their catchy jingles whenever they came on TV, my daughter enjoys the opening credits and music associated with shows that I liked watching - the funny part is - particularly those that I watched when I was pregnant with her - television is mesmerizing and it's okay to let your little one watch it - just set limits and keep things in moderation
• The Bedtime Rumble - Sleeping is hard for babies and for toddlers because they aren't thinking about the next morning, in fact their concept of time is very skewed so all they see about bedtime is that it is an ending and they aren't ready to end things, they want them to keep going - be understanding about their insecurities and help them make their bed a safe place so they won't feel like the world is ending when they get in there
• The Dawdle and Stroll - When your toddler is out for a walk, get used to shortening your stride - they are all about the journey and only a little about the destination. Take your time and don't rush them, if you are in that much of a hurry, you can pick them up or put them in a stroller
• Pitching Fits When It's Time to Go - My little one loved people and she still loves them, so it never came as a surprise when she didn't want to leave anywhere where she might have been playing. I would prepare her for it - I'd tell her that she would have 15 minutes left. I kept the countdown going so that she would understand when it was time to go. This rarely stopped her flipping out when it was time to go, but I always gave her the countdown and when it was time, it was time - the hysterics always ended at the car and she was perfectly fine - talk about perfunctory performances!

What does your toddler do that drives you nuts?

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Learn more about Heather Long

Heather Long is 35 years old and currently lives in Wylie, Texas. She has been a freelance writer for six years. Her husband and she met while working together at America Online over ten years ago.

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Jaime Egan (2178) 24 Aug 2006 01:02 PM

My daughter is usually good about most of those things, thank goodness, but lately she has been begging her daddy and me for her juice cup when it's bedtime. We have NEVER allowed her to take a juice cup (or a bottle when she was an infant) to bed. I don't know why all of a sudden she is doing that, but it's driving me crazy.