The Toddler ABC

A is for Appetite ….it comes and it goes. Don’t stress. If hungry , they eat.

B is for BooHoo…..crying is a way of communicating. As in ” I am very angry with you right now for making me do something / stop doing something but I don’t know how to say it yet. But just you wait! “

C is for Cute………little legs in shorts and pudgy arms around your neck.

D is for Doors…..suddenly they can open them. Be prepared.

E is for Entertaining………original use of language will keep you giggling.

F is for Forget Your Sunday Afternoon Snooze……..sorry, it’s over.

G is for Growth Spurt…..no, they don’t just happen to babies. Buy bigger clothes than you think you need.

H is for Happy Day ……when Grandma comes to visit. And takes over “let’s -use- the- garden- hose- on- mom – duty “

I is for Irritation Suppression………when you’ve watched the same DVD / read the same story/ answered the same question 126 times.

J is for Joy…….blowing bubbles and chasing butterflies and discovering jumping castles.

K is for Kiddie TV………choose the right channel from the beginning and pretend there are no others. Channel 306/307/308.

L is for Love……..your heart will overflow regularly.

M is for “Mamma”……..the best word in the world.

N is for “NO! “………..you’ll say it……..they’ll say it………it will be said A LOT OF TIMES. More times than you ever thought possible.

O is for Opening……..suddenly they can open every single container in the house. Including expensive perfume bottles and aromatherapy oils…..and of course, the toilet door once you’re getting comfortable in there ……

P is for Potty Training…….. Don’t force it. And don’t fall for the pressure of “getting it done”. They won’t walk down the aisle in nappies.

Q is for Quiet…..when it’s quiet you’d better RUN!!

R is for Redress…..always, always take an extra set of clothes.

S is for “Switch off”……..a button you often wish they had.

T is for Tickling……guaranteed to produce the most gorgeous belly laugh.

U is for Us…….we are family.

V is for Vocal ………in supermarkets, in churches, during speeches………practise being embarrassed…….you’ll get used to it

W is for Water…….an endless source of entertainment. And the final frontier when everything else fails to amuse.

X is for Xhosa…….or any other language. They absorb it like sponges.

Y is for Yesterday ……..what’s in the past is in the past. Let’s tackle today with endless enthusiasm. A valuable toddler lesson for adults.

Z is for Zzzzzz……………let sleeping toddlers lie. Anywhere. And once they’re asleep you won’t care in any case. Plus while
asleep they resemble angels straight from heaven. Which is what they are. Mostly.

By SANET ODENDAAL

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