10 Things I Wish Someone Told Me About Parenting Toddlers (Before I Lost My Mind)

Let’s just say this: toddlers are cute little chaos goblins with sticky fingers, strong opinions, and zero understanding of time, logic, or personal space. No one really prepares you for the toddler phase — and if they did, I probably wouldn’t have believed them anyway.

So here it is: a brutally honest, mom-to-mom list of things I wish someone had told me before my toddler turned my world upside down (and then asked for a snack after).

1. They’re Tiny Dictators in Stretchy Pants

Forget logic. Toddlers will demand a banana, watch you peel it, then scream because it’s “too banana-y.” You're not crazy — this is just how they operate.

2. Sleep Regression Is Real (and Rude)

You think you made it out of the newborn no-sleep phase. Then boom — 18-month sleep regression. Just go ahead and accept that you’re back in the trenches for a while.

3. You’ll Say “Be Gentle” 47,000 Times a Day

Whether it’s the baby, the cat, or your face, toddlers love testing boundaries with their tiny fists of fury. “Gentle hands” becomes your new life mantra.

4. Everything Is a Climbable Object

Your couch. The kitchen table. Your soul. If they can scale it, they will — and somehow they’ll do it when your back is turned for 0.2 seconds.

5. You Will Cry Over Spilled Milk — Literally

Because it’ll be the third spill that day, and it will happen just as you're sitting down for the first time since sunrise. And yes, you’ll absolutely cry about it.

6. You’ll Never Pee Alone Again

You could be in a bunker 100 feet underground and they would still find you. Lock the door? Congrats, you now have a small person screaming outside of it.

7. They’re Sweet One Minute, Feral the Next

It’s emotional whiplash. One second they’re snuggling in your lap telling you they love you. The next they’re losing it because their graham cracker broke in half.

8. Snacks Fix Almost Everything

World ending? Give them a pouch. Meltdown incoming? Try cheese sticks. Snacks are the duct tape of parenting toddlers.

9. Screen Time Is Not the Devil

Sometimes, the TV is the village. No shame in letting Bluey or Ms. Rachel help you survive a chaotic day. You’re not failing — you’re adapting.

10. You’re Doing Better Than You Think

On the hardest days, it’s easy to feel like you’re failing. But the truth is: if you’re showing up, loving hard, and trying your best — you’re nailing this.

Final Thoughts From a Tired Mom Who Gets It:

This stage is messy. Loud. Beautiful. Draining. But it’s also fleeting. One day, you’ll miss the chubby hands tugging your shirt, the “again, again!” requests, and even the chaos. Maybe.

Until then, you’re not alone — and if you’re barely surviving right now?Same, mama. Same.

Some days I crush it. Some days I cry in the bathroom and eat snacks I told my kids we didn’t have. And most days? I’m somewhere in between — trying to keep the peace, keep the house standing, and keep tiny humans alive and (mostly) happy.

Here’s what I know for sure:Toddlers don’t need a perfect mom.They need a present one. One who keeps showing up, even when she’s overwhelmed, exhausted, and unsure of what the heck she’s doing.

This season is hard, but it’s holy. It’s loud, but it’s laced with laughter.And it’s full of moments that we’ll blink and miss one day — even the messy ones.

So if no one’s told you lately:You’re doing enough. You are enough.And your toddler isn’t wild because you’re doing it wrong — they’re wild because that’s what toddlers do.

So grab your lukewarm coffee, high-five yourself for making it through another day, and know that I’m over here cheering you on — crusty yogurt shirt and all.