I Forgot How Funny Raising a Toddler Is

I forgot how funny raising a toddler is.

Not funny like, “Oh, let’s sit down and tell each other jokes.”

Funny like, What in the world just happened?

I’ve raised children before. I have experience. I have wisdom.

And apparently, I have forgotten everything.

Because raising a toddler again feels a lot like living with a feral princess.

My toddler can climb like a mountain goat and has the sneaky skills of a ninja. She can get into places I didn’t even know were accessible and somehow manage to get herself into trouble before I’ve even finished my sentence.

She can bang her head off the wall, get up, laugh, and keep going like nothing happened.

But tell her “no”?

Oh, now we have a situation.

She could win an Academy Award for her dramatic, theatrical dying monologue.

The kind where you briefly wonder if you need to call 911.

Nope.

She just wanted the batteries in the remote.

Toddlers are also very particular about things.

The cup has to be that cup.

The snack has to be opened this way.

You hand them the exact thing they asked for?

Wrong.

You have somehow ruined their entire day.

And changing a diaper?

Well, that feels less like a parenting task and more like trying to survive a crocodile doing a death roll.

You have both legs.

And somehow she has the upper hand.

Then there are the mysteries of toddlerhood.

For some reason, everything is wet.

The floor is wet.

The chair is wet.

Your shirt is wet.

The toy is wet.

With what?

Well, that’s still a mystery.

I’m not even sure I want to know.

And don’t get me started on the things toddlers consider treasures.

A rock.

A stick.

A tiny piece of paper.

Something they found under the couch that you’re pretty sure should have been thrown away several years ago.

And they bring it to you with the proudest little face like they’ve just discovered a priceless artifact.

So you smile and say, “Oh, that’s nice.”

And just when you think you’ve got things under control, you turn around and realize your toddler has climbed onto something she absolutely should not be on.

Again.

How?

I was standing right here.

But here’s the thing.

As exhausting as it is, I forgot how much I would laugh.

I forgot how funny the little things are.

I forgot how serious toddlers can be about absolutely nothing.

I forgot how they can turn a completely ordinary Tuesday into a full-blown adventure.

And I forgot how quickly this stage passes.

One day, there won’t be toys everywhere.

There won’t be tiny feet running through the house.

There won’t be dramatic Academy Award performances because I said no.

So for now, I’ll take the chaos.

I’ll take the wet mystery.

I’ll take the climbing.

I’ll take the sneakiness.

I’ll take the dramatic performances.

I’ll take this wild little feral princess exactly as she is.

Because apparently, I didn’t forget how to raise a toddler.

I just forgot how much fun comes with it.

Tell me in the comments: What is the funniest, strangest, or most ridiculous thing your toddler has done lately? I want to know I’m not the only one living with a tiny chaos coordinator.

And if you enjoyed this little glimpse into my wonderfully chaotic life, please follow Home with Heather so you don’t miss the next one. I’d love to have you here.