I looked around the house and it looked like a war zone.
It was the end of what seemed to be the longest day of my life. I tried to clean up after each set of toys were dumped out of their individual buckets, but I had obviously failed. Somehow, the little two-year-old was much faster than me.
The light shimmered on the sticky floor underneath the kitchen table – I had cleaned up three bowls of spilled cereal and milk that morning and apparently missed a spot.
Blocks, dolls and puzzle pieces were all spread across the living room floor and I wondered how in the world I will EVER see my rug again?!
Clothes were everywhere. Out of the laundry basket. Out of the dryer {that had been sitting there for days by the way, we call our dryer our dresser most days}. Out of her real dresser drawers. And out of her closet…. Because why? Of course because she HAD to wear her purple Sofia The First Pajamas to bed because the others “itch” or are “too tight” or are “too big” or simply “aren’t Sofia.”
It was a day full of tears… for the both of us. I was ready to give up. I had felt as if I had failed as a mom.
But just as I was about to break down, I felt a little hand rest on my back. The little hand went up and down and started tapping on my shoulder.
I turned around and a set of big blue eyes were looking into mine.
“I wuv you, mommy.”
Who knew four words would be so powerful? So meaningful? So perfect? SO… exactly what I needed to hear?
I realized at that moment that not everything is bad. That having a toddler can be hard… REALLY hard. I mean pulling-your-hair-out hard.
But it isn’t always that bad.
Toddlers have a bad reputation. They even go through stages the world calls “Terrible Twos” and “Tantrum Threes” or even the “Threenager.”
But when you really think about, toddlers aren’t as bad as you hear. In fact, here are 10 reasons why:
Photography by Christine Olson Photography
1. THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANT, WHEN THEY WANT IT: As adults we struggle to make up our minds and make decisions through our problems, but for toddlers they know exactly what they need and often times their problems are much easier to fix then ours. A simple kiss on a boo-boo can make the tears suddenly stop or one more bedtime story is all they need to be ready to fall asleep.
2. THEY ARE REAL: With so many fake people in this world today, you never know who is saying what behind your back or who a real friend is. But your toddler tells you how it is. They will tell you everything on their mind in the bluntest way possible. They don’t have much of a filter. In fact, you could say that your toddler is THE most honest person you will ever meet, except for that moment you ask who stole the cookies from the cookie jar.
3. THEIR INNOCENCE AND HUMOR: As we get older it seems that our humor has to be crude to think something is funny. But as a toddler, they are hilarious without being vulgar. They simply live life and can have you rolling on the floor with laughter. They can make us smile by the most innocent sayings and cutest mimics.
4. THEY SHOW US THAT SMALL THINGS GO A LONG WAY: We expect so much in this world. Our standards are high and the things we “want” and the things we “need” start getting mushed together. But as a toddler, life is simple. You throw on The Lion King with a bowl of cereal and that is all they need to be happy. They show us that life can be simple. And the things we think we need, may not be as important as we thought they were.
5. THEY ARE THE BEST GIFT GIVERS: Because all of their gifts are from their heart. A bowl of sand from the playground. A pile of rocks from the backyard. A bird feather they found on the sidewalk. A picture they concentrated so hard on. Are suddenly the greatest gifts we have ever received and are far more precious and perfect than anything money could buy.
6. THEY ARE BRILLIANT: When a 92-year-old grandma looks at an iPad, they have no idea what buttons to push or how to even swipe to the right to unlock it. But a two-year-old knows how to hack into your email, buy their favorite apps and how to find strange kid-friendly YouTube videos about toys and candy.
7. THEY ARE FORGIVING: As adults we make mistakes. Nobody is perfect and life gets hard. But toddlers are the BEST at forgiving and forgetting. They do not hold grudges and they love without end.
8. THEY KNOW HOW TO HAVE FUN: If anyone knows how to have a good time, it is toddlers. The older we get, the less and less we move. We forget how important it is to PLAY. To RUN. To get DIRTY. Toddlers know how to use their energy in good, positive ways. And in fact, are the best examples for us.
9. THEY GIVE YOUR LIFE PURPOSE: Because suddenly when you feel like you want to give up, you remember that there is a little someone watching you. And you want to be the very BEST… for them. Nobody will make you more proud than your little toddler. The greatest feeling in the world is that first word that comes out of their mouth. Or that first step. Or that first smile. And you suddenly would do anything and everything for THEM.
10. THEY LOVE YOU UNCONDITIONALLY: “Love is giving a person the power to destroy you, and trusting them not to.” When you have a toddler, you sometimes think they are going to destroy you. Life gets hard and bad days come. But no matter what, at the end of the day, they love you. They love you with all of their heart. No matter what you did or didn’t do… they think you are the best.
And they need you.
And it doesn’t take long for you to realize that you need them too.
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Danielle is the owner of Today's the Best Day. She strives to provide creative and uplifting content in order to enrich the parenting experience for women everywhere. Danielle hopes to help you and your family to make every day the best day! 
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