One day, you are bringing home your sweet little bundle of joy, and then suddenly, you look up, and your baby is not a baby anymore. What happened?! It’s so true that the days are long, but the years are short. And before you know it, you are a mama to a toddler. I saw my baby slowly growing and outgrowing his clothes each month, but certain signs made me realize he was no longer a baby. There was no doubt about it. My little guy was a full-blown toddler, and it happens faster than you realize. These are the signs you know you’re a toddler mom.
1. When “Mama” and “Dada” become “Mommy” and “Daddy.”
Your little one can say more words now. And now, instead of calling you mama and dada, they are calling you both mommy and daddy. I remember when that moment happened to us, which kind of broke my heart. That “mama” phase was much shorter than I realized.
2. When you don’t know who says “no” more . . . you or your toddler.
If it’s not me saying “no” to my toddler, it’s my toddler saying it to me. “No, you can’t have a snack for breakfast.” “No, you can’t run on the couch.” “No, don’t give the dogs your food.” And if I’m telling him to eat something healthy, get ready for bed, take a bath, pick up his toys, or anything, his reply is, “NOOOOOOOOOO!”
3. When you count to three all day long, but you hope you never reach 3.
“1 . . . . . . . 2 . . . . . . . 2 and a half . . . . don’t make me put you in time out!” It’s hoping that the counting scares them straight, so you don’t have to deal with time out.
4. When you end up pushing an empty stroller and carrying your tot.
My son loves going outside on walks. But he also likes to stop every five feet and look at bugs, mud, flowers, and everything else. To get anywhere, I have to bring a stroller, but of course, he is the one who wants to push the stroller. “No, me!” he says. He wants to get out of the stroller and demands to push it or be carried the rest of the way.
5. When they ask for snacks All. Day. Long.
Me: “Are you ready for breakfast?” Him: “No, yucky. Snack!”
Me: “It’s almost lunchtime. Mommy is going to make you a yummy sandwich.” Him: “Nooooo! Snack!!”
I swear, if he’s not saying no, he’s asking for a snack. They don’t want breakfast, lunch, or dinner. All day long, all they want are snacks. They pretty much treat you like their snack b*tch.
6. When they start laughing at your jokes.
Now, this is cute! Toddlers are beginning to understand more of what you are saying. They can understand simple funny jokes for kids and laugh at them! Rather than just making silly faces to make them giggle, watching them laugh out loud over a little knock-knock joke you tell is so cute. 🙂
7. When they don’t want your help with anything.
“No, me!” My toddler wants zero help from me. He is adamant about doing everything himself. Putting on his shoes, zipping up his jacket, and opening a bag of snacks, he wants to do it all on his own.
8. When nothing is yours. Everything is theirs. “MINE!”
You thought the plate of food you made yourself was yours . . . wrong. Anything you are holding, eating, drinking, or have any interest in at all, they immediately tell you, “Mine!”
9. When you’re constantly putting couch cushions back on the couch.
What is it about couch cushions that toddlers can’t stand them being on the couch? I never had this problem before when he was a baby, but now the cushions are used for pillow fights, landing pads, forts, and more.
10. When you’re always chasing them.
For diaper changes. To brush their teeth. To bathe them. He’s gotten faster, and I am always chasing after him.
11. When they don’t want to take a bath, but then they don’t want to get out of it.
He used to love bath time. But now, he has no interest in it unless he’s already in the bath, and then he doesn’t want to get out. This is when the word “no” happens a lot more, chasing happens, and counting to three begins again.
12. When they start sharing their own opinion. And they have a lot of them.
Whether it’s what they want for breakfast, what to wear for the day, or what color of cup they will drink out of, toddlers have lots of opinions—and strong ones, at that.
13. When you are a human jungle gym.
Yes, they would climb all over you as babies, but now it’s different. They want to ride you like a horse, jump on your belly, climb up your legs, and walk all over you.
14. When you feel like their personal butler.
I find myself feeling more and more like his butler. I’m constantly getting him his cup and his favorite book, picking up his toys, getting his shoes, and more. And when you bring your toddler lunch, and they look at it with disgust and tell you no and to send it back, you know you’re a toddler mom.
15. When you hear “pee-pee” and “poo-poo” all day long.
Potty training is a part of your life now. And everything is about “pee-pee” and “poo.” If it’s not about them trying to go on the potty, it’s them calling something “pee-pee” 0r “poo poo” as a joke or pointing out dog poop during your daily walk. *smh*
16. When you’re always saying, “Slow down! Sit down! Get off that! Put that down!”
If you’re not saying “no” to your toddler, you might be saying one of these phrases instead. You’re making sure they don’t hurt themselves, hurt someone else, or break something.
17. “See. That’s why I told you not to do that.”
And when they don’t listen to you and fall and hurt themselves or break something, you tell them, “I told you so.”
18. When you become a treasure holder.
Your toddler will ask you to hold all their things if you’re at a park, on a walk, or anywhere. I can’t tell you how many rocks, sticks, leaves, and flowers I’ve had to carry, along with his cup, stroller, hat, and toys.
19. When you’re constantly wiping them down.
Toddlers have a gift of always being sticky. I’m always trying to protect our furniture, so I’m usually running after him with a wet wipe in hand, trying to wipe his mouth, nose, and hands down.
20. When you realize you’re not above bribing.
Needing them to be quiet during a trip to the grocery store? Or maybe you need them to finish their vegetables, pick up their toys, or let you change their diaper? You’ve found that bribing with some gummies or a cookie is sometimes worth it.
These are the 20 signs you know you’re a toddler mom. Is there anything you would add to the list?
