- About two hours before you plan to leave, start preparing your little one for the clothing ceremony.
- Gather some clothes and approach your toddler with enthusiasm, making the idea of dressing sound like a fun game.
- Your toddler suddenly recalls their love for hide and seek.
- Employ the Love and Logic method; offer your toddler a choice: they can come to you for a pleasant dressing experience, or you can come to them and dress them… let’s say, less gently.
- Remind yourself that generating effective choices is why you’re still learning the ropes of Love and Logic.
- Out of nowhere, your toddler remembers the colorful band-aid their sibling received weeks ago.
- They begin a frantic search for any potential “owies.”
- After a thorough examination, they discover a tiny red spot on their finger from squeezing it too hard.
- Your toddler declares that their finger is severely injured and demands a rainbow band-aid.
- You channel your inner “reasonable parent” and declare, “No band-aids are needed right now.”
- Your toddler launches into a relentless Rainbow Band-aid Campaign, filled with volume and determination.
- You feel your energy drain as the campaign intensifies.
- Your boundaries evaporate into thin air.
- Moments later, your toddler triumphantly emerges from the bathroom, adorned with 15 band-aids on various body parts.
- You remind yourself that this is a charming display of independence.
- Suddenly, your toddler claims to be a puppy and starts barking.
- Remembering how obedient puppies can be, you instruct your “puppy” to get dressed.
- The puppy game proves effective; your toddler is almost in their clothes until they declare their shirt is too heavy.
- They promptly start shedding their clothes like a snake.
- You decide it’s time for a wrestling match, and soon both of you are in tears.
- With your bag packed, you make your way to the stairs.
- You recall your toddler’s sudden dislike for being carried down the stairs from yesterday.
- Upon reaching the top, your toddler suddenly can’t walk.
- Now in tears because you aren’t carrying them, you instinctively pick them up.
- In the midst of this, they remember how much they adore ice cream and Grandma, and they demand both immediately.
- You calmly explain that ice cream isn’t breakfast food and Grandma is far away.
- Your toddler, filled with indignation, declares that you’re in big trouble and will face a time-out.
- A flicker of fear crosses your mind, but you quickly realize that you only have a few minutes left to get to the car, and grown-ups shouldn’t be intimidated by toddlers.
- As you attempt to carry your toddler down the stairs, they suddenly feel like your arms are filled with “independence-destroying knives.”
- Eventually, your toddler strides to the car, huffily.
- They insist on climbing into the car solo.
- The muddy state of the car forces you to pick up your now-screaming toddler and secure them in their car seat, all while dodging their flailing limbs.
- By the time you plop into the driver’s seat, your toddler’s crying has ceased.
- Your toddler has transformed into a Baby Mermaid, demanding compliments on their cuteness and shiny tail.
- They now want to know how cats function.
- The sunlight streaming through the window has suddenly become blinding.
- Your toddler requests a rendition of “The Wheels on the Bus.”
- You begin to sing, only for them to angrily demand you stop.
- You rest your head on the steering wheel, feeling your parenting resolve crack just a bit.
- After what feels like climbing mountains and swimming oceans, you’ve finally made it into the car with your toddler.
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In summary, getting your toddler into a car can be a whimsical yet chaotic adventure. From battling against band-aid demands to navigating the complexities of imaginary play, the journey is filled with laughter, tears, and a healthy dose of perseverance.