Toddlers, amiright" Unpredictable, destructive, stubborn and volatile, they can swing wildly from cuddle bug to incensed teenager to drunk uncle and back again in less time than it takes to change the channel from Paw Patrol to The Wiggles (neither of which will actually be what they wanted). Which is why we as caregivers try to wield as much control over them possible. From car seat tantrums to battles over weather-appropriate clothing and everything in between: They want control, we want them to keep their pants on at circle time.
What I wish I’d known when my first kid was a toddler was this: Let them win.
Not with everything, of course, but with the things that have the least impact on me, and the biggest impact on them. Whether that?s getting dirty, indulging in the opportunity to say no, or wearing mismatched shoes to the park, there really are some things you can (and should) just let your toddler do. Not just for your own sanity, but because it might actually be good for them. 1. Get messy
This was a hard one for me because I like things neat and tidy. But toddlers don?t. They are impulsive mad scientists, and that?s how they learn. I mean, if you had the chance to live consequence-free, wouldn?t you take off your boots to see what it feels like to squash mud through your toes" Wouldn?t you lie down in the dirt so you could be face-to-face with the potato bug when you rolled over its rock" Wouldn?t you run full tilt into the lake in your snow pa...