By Katia Bishofs of IAMTHEMILK
There comes a time in every toddler’s life when all of their creative energy that’s been building up for what seems like ages channels itself out in one giant two to three hour outpour. Grownups refer to this as “bedtime.”
It’s at times like these when our toddlers reach the peak of their creativity with ideas that extend far beyond the traditional “I’m thirsty/hungry/need to pee” that we examine them in awe, thinking, “I’ve created a toddler.”
The other day I had spent a delightful 2 hours and 40 minutes accompanying my toddler in his creative journey. I present to you the notes I took during this session in 39 bullet points.
1. Sang the song “Shut up that’s right.”
2. Informed me that he could sing the song “Shut up that’s right.”
3. Removed his socks because they were dirty (had a stripe pattern on them).
4. Wore my slippers and climbed into bed.
5. Argued that he does need to wear my slippers to bed because his socks are dirty.
6. Announced he was going to sleep.
7. Transitioned into a downward dog pose.
8. Whispered in a tone that prefaces sweet nothings that he wants to eat thomething.
9. Refused his usual choice of sliced cheese and agreed to his mom’s suggestion to have some strawberries instead.
10. Upon return to his room, started assembling a Caillou puzzle.
11. Seemed surprised and slightly offended by the presence of a strawberry bowl in his room.
12. Asked for sliced cheese.
13. Ran into his brother’s room and shouted that he was going to sleep.
14. Reiterated his intention to go to sleep when back in his room, and to demonstrate the seriousness of his intention, asked the puzzling question, “How long should it take?” To clarify that the question wasn’t rhetorical, he responded to it with his own suggestion of “40 minutes.”
15. To prove a point, he counted to 20, adding the number 11 at the end.
16. Talked about the time he blew a raspberry at nursery school and asked if his mom (who doesn’t attend nursery school) remembers.
17. Complained that when he closes his eyes it’s too dark.
18. Defiantly declared that he was going to do the Caillou puzzle.
19. Tantrumed when he wasn’t allowed to.
20. Got totally distracted by his mom’s story about a talking squirrel she had met on the way to work, questioning only the part where the squirrel called her “mama.”
21. Tried to walk on the wall while tucking his foot under his Paw Patrol poster.
22. Provocatively wondered aloud who might be the culprit responsible for the large missing part at the bottom right corner of his Paw Patrol poster.
23. Didn’t notice how his mom put his socks back on.
24. Decided he was going to have a Lemonade Party at nursery school.
25. Did not invite his mom.
26. Volunteered to demonstrate to his mom that we do have berry juice in the fridge.
27. Accompanied his mom downstairs while passionately repeating after her, “I can’t do this anymore.”
28. Drank up all his juice and said that he wanted more.
29. Fell victim to his mom’s hypnotic techniques, started rolling his eyes, sucking his finger and becoming very quiet.
30. Wanted to know the reasons for many different things three minutes later.
31. Became very excited with all the endless potential in many different things and sat up.
32. Did not appreciate being pulled back to his pillow and pinched his mom.
33. Pondered if he should maybe take his socks off because the blanket is very cold.
34. Decided on a ‘yes’ and allowed his mom to hold them.
35. Became very interested in the rationale behind the color scheme choice for his room (white). Stated a desire to repaint the walls pink and replace his white pillowcase with a green one.
36. Went very silent for a few minutes and started grinding his teeth.
37. Asked, “Who is Greg?”
38. Went very silent again — a deep, teeth grinding silence interrupted only by his ‘sheesh!’ a few minutes later
39. Fell asleep.
It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. He drives me nuts. I adore him.
This post was originally published on IAMTHEMILK.
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About the Author
Katia is the creator of IAMTHEMILK, a WordPress recommended blog in the family category. She has problematic hair and two boys who enjoy 2-3 hour bedtime sessions with their parents. Follow Katia on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.