Life Lessons you can learn from a toddler

Toddlers can be frustrating, any parent can tell you that, but, if you look a little closer at the goings on of a toddler, you will find many lessons on life. Or at the very least, an inspirational poster here and there.

 

Here are 8 lessons that I have learned from living with toddlers-

1) Who cares what strangers think of you

So, we may say we don’t care what people think of us, but all of us have certain times where we might feel embarrassed to show our true selves, times where we hold back, bite our tongues, or just act socially acceptable. 

Not if you’re a toddler! Toddlers don’t give a shit what anyone thinks of them, ever! 

People are staring at you in Target? Don’t care, still going to show my true emotions about not getting candy, and by that I mean throw myself on the floor and scream.

2) Dance like no one is watching

Speaking of not giving a shit, toddlers don’t care what they look like when they’re dancing. If music is playing, toddlers are dancing. Really though, is there anything cuter than a toddler dancing? No, no there isn’t.

3) Wear your feelings on your sleeve

There is no trying to figure out what a toddler is thinking. They let their true feelings show! If they don’t like the present someone got them, they won’t pretend to like it, no matter how much it hurts Aunt Penny’s feelings. 

If they’re scared, they have no problem letting everyone within earshot know about it. And their giggles are a dead giveaway to their happiness.

4) If you fall down, just get right back up again

Toddlers do this all day. Literally, their poor coordination means they fall a lot and they do not care. They just get right back up and go on their way. Maybe they will need to get a kiss on a boo boo first, but they won’t stay down for long! 

I watched my 2 year old run down a hill, fall face first and flip over. She got back up and continued running.

5) Get plenty of exercise

Getting my lazy ass to do something athletic is no easy feat. Getting a toddler to run, jump, climb, or anything that requires movement, no problem whatsoever! 

Downward facing toddler

6) Take naps

While I would love to take daily naps, it hardly ever happens. Now, a toddler might not always claim to like this life lesson, but they get a chuck of time every afternoon set aside just for this purpose. 

And hell hath no fury like a parent of a toddler when someone or something messes with nap time. Ring that doorbell after 1pm and you will see that fury.

7) Instead of 3 large meals, eat several small meals throughout the day

Whenever I hear this advice, I always think of my toddler. She’s got this one down pat. All toddlers do is eat. Spend five minutes with a toddler and at some point she will ask you to feed her. Speaking of food,

8) Never skip breakfast

Never a problem for a toddler! The moment their little eyes pop open in the morning, they want to eat. I like to eat in the morning too, but I usually like to wake up a bit first. I can’t even change my toddler’s diaper before she’s asking to eat like she’s been on stranded on an island for a week with no food.

Next time you feel like your toddler is driving you mad, remember they are just following all of the cliché life advice we have heard a million times! Maybe there is even a life lesson or two somewhere in there for us too.

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Thank you for sharing!