I’m Happy My Kids Have Outgrown Their Toddler Years

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I’m Happy My Kids Have Outgrown Their Toddler Years

by Jenna Wolfe
Oct. 27, 2016

Let’s be real: no one truly wishes for their kids to stay little forever, and if you say you do, well, let’s just say you might be fooling yourself. When I hear parents exclaim, “Don’t grow up! Stay little forever!” it honestly makes me cringe. While it sounds sweet, it inadvertently suggests that you won’t love your kids as much when they become adults.

Caring for little ones is tough—like, really tough. There was a phase in my life so chaotic that I can hardly recall most of it. That might sound alarming, but here’s the silver lining: things get better as they grow.

Trust me, your kids will grow up, and when they do, life becomes a lot more manageable, enjoyable, and dare I say, fun. We might even find it easier to breathe if we just cut ourselves some slack. Let’s stop beating ourselves up for not savoring every single moment of those early years. Sure, there were delightful times, but let’s be honest, most of the time we were just trying to survive.

Life with babies and toddlers is often a relentless cycle of diapers, teething, potty training, sleepless nights, and endless messes—think soggy Cheerios, crying fits, and those epic blowouts. Yes, one day we might miss those adorable chubby cheeks and slobbery kisses, but let’s be real, we’ll never miss the chaos that came with it.

And just when we think we’re overwhelmed, someone tosses in a guilt trip with sayings like, “It’ll be gone before you know it. Those tiny fingerprints on the wall will fade away.” Yeah, but when those prints are gone, it means our kids have grown up to be independent, responsible individuals who can wash their own hands.

Now that I’m juggling a toddler alongside elementary and high schoolers, I can assure you: the older they get, the easier it becomes. My older kids do chores (what?!), crack witty jokes (finally!), can be reasoned with (sometimes), and even babysit the little one (thank goodness!). I genuinely enjoy my older kids now. I loved them when they were babies, but watching them develop their own personalities and talents is a true joy. Seeing them help the younger ones is simply magical.

Sure, life still has its challenges—like that throbbing headache from juggling five different tasks—but at least I’m finally getting enough sleep to handle it all. For the first time in ages, I feel like I’m not just treading water; I’m actually getting somewhere. It’s like a miracle!

I occasionally look back at old photos that capture all the cuteness and fun and feel a pang of nostalgia. But then I remember the overwhelming messes and all the times I was too frazzled to take a picture, and I’m thankful we’re moving past that stage.

Soon, we’ll be thrilled to have kids who can take care of themselves—who can read on their own, do their own laundry, and even drive themselves to school. They’ll grow into responsible, hilarious adults, which is what we’re ultimately aiming for, right?

And if everything goes well, one day we’ll get to cuddle with adorable grandbabies and then happily hand them back to their parents at bedtime.

For more insights on parenting and navigating these stages, check out this blog post. And if you’re looking for resources on fertility, don’t miss out on great information from Make a Mom and CDC.

Summary:

Parenting young children can be incredibly challenging, and while we may treasure some moments, it’s important to acknowledge that life gets significantly easier as kids grow. Embracing the chaos of toddlerhood doesn’t mean we can’t look forward to the joys of raising independent, responsible adults. Ultimately, the goal is to nurture our children into thriving, enjoyable human beings while we cherish the memories we’ve made along the way.