Hellobee

We talk a lot about toddlerhood and all of the struggles that come along with it. Terrible Twos. Threenagers. Most of what we associate toddlers with are negative images – tantrums and tears, whining and frustration. I can’t say I haven’t fallen into that habit as well – Jackson’s behavior is hard sometimes, and the tantrums and meltdowns can be totally and utterly exhausting.

However, there are so many things about toddlers that are just wonderful. Watching him learn, seeing the language explosion, and listening to that giant, wonderful belly laugh are just a few of the things I love most about having a toddler. For all of the ways that toddlers are difficult, there are just as many ways that they’re absolutely amazing to have around, and lately I’ve been noticing a few things in Jackson that I wish I could emulate. So, in an effort to focus on the completely positive and absolutely amazing things about toddlers, here are 5 ways I want to be more like my toddler.

1. I want to slow down more. If you have a toddler or have ever spent any time around one, you know they don’t do anything in a hurry. Toddlers are all about doing things at their own pace, in their own time, and there will be hell to pay if you try to make them move at anything above a snail’s pace. I spend so much of my time running around, trying to rush through every little moment of my day that I rarely slow down and actually pay attention to my surroundings. I want to slow down like Jackson and see the beautiful things around me on a daily basis. Why rush through life when you can slow it down and actually experience it?

2. I want to be content with the little things. You should see the way my child’s face lights up when we’re at a restaurant and the waiter brings him some bread. Or how excited he gets when I tell him it’s time to go to school and see his friends. Somewhere along the way we seem to lose the ability to be absolutely thrilled with the tiny little pleasures in our day. Toddlers, however, are still overjoyed at the smallest little things – reading the same book we’ve read seven times every day for the last month still brings him just as much joy as it did the first time around. I want to spend more time being thankful and excited about the little moments in my day.

Why the giant grin? We’re outside and he has a hat. That’s about it.

3. I want to enjoy life, with abandon. Have you ever noticed how little a toddler cares about what other people think about them? Jackson does what he loves and he doesn’t care if anyone else notices. When his favorite song comes on he dances his little heart out, no matter where we are or who is watching. When it rains, he wants to splash in every single puddle – he’s not hiding from getting wet. He wants to pet every dog, smell every flower, and press every button that he comes across in his life. I want to embrace my life even half as enthusiastically as he does!

4. I want to love myself, my body, and my reflection. Jackson absolutely lights up when he sees himself in a mirror. When he does something new, he’s so proud of himself that he claps and cheers right along with me. He marvels at his belly and loves to see how far he can push it out; he “oohs” and “awws” at photos of himself, and he has more self-confidence than any adult I’ve ever met in my life. He loves his body and what it can do, and he is so proud of every new thing he learns. I think it’s so sad that as adults we all seem to lose this love of ourselves and what we’re capable of – I want to spend more time being proud of my body, my accomplishments, and what I see in the mirror.

5. I want to speak my mind. I don’t know if you’ve noticed this about toddlers, but they never suffer in silence. If they don’t like something, you’re going to hear about it. Too many times in my life I sit back and don’t say anything about things that make me unhappy or frustrate me, when there’s no reason I shouldn’t speak up. I want to take a cue from Jackson and learn to speak up for myself more often – maybe not in quite the same manner that he does, but why should I keep quiet when I could say something and make myself happier?

6. I want to be completely in the moment, all the time. Jackson is never distracted by a phone or the internet. He’s never thinking about other things when I’m talking to him. When we’re playing together, he isn’t checking his watch to see how much longer it is until the next thing starts. He’s there, he’s present, and he’s in the moment at all times. I want to be that kind of focused in my time with my loved ones – I spend so much time distracted and thinking about other things that I don’t always take the time to really enjoy my moments with other people. My toddler is a pro at this, and I should take a cue from him.

7. I want to bask in the little routines of my day. Jackson loves to help with the laundry. Putting away groceries? He could do it all day long. Brushing his teeth is one of the most exciting parts of the morning. Any time I ask him to help me with a chore, it’s like Christmas morning. I spend so much time complaining about the chores, routines, and tasks that I have to get through every day – why? I’m going to have to do it anyways so why not take some pride in what I’m doing and actually enjoy these parts of my day? They aren’t going anywhere – I might as well embrace it!

I get tired of cooking dinner every night, but he’s always thrilled to be my sous chef! 

As challenging as the toddler phase in a child’s life can be, I’m finding that there are so many wonderful, sweet, silly aspects to this phase, and I want to soak up every second. What are some ways  you want to be more like your child?