MFP 304: Enjoying your Toddler

Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family

“You can learn many things from toddlers! For example, how much patience you actually have.”

-Anonymous

One blessing of having ten kids is that we have matured and learned enough about kids to appreciate the toddler years of children #9 and 10 much more than those years with children #1 and 2. Our advice to parents of toddlers is to start by enjoying them! It’s hard to do when they are destroying your house and embarrassing you in public, but with a few strategies and consistency on your part, you can begin to see that this little bundle of creative energy has been amazingly designed by the Divine Creator. It’s all part of His plan to get this child to adulthood and independence, and to get you to heaven!

Key Takeaways

• All children need to be delighted in, but especially the young child! Take time to relax and enjoy them.

• Toddlers challenge us to begin saying “yes” to them and their needs and “no” to our own desires. This is the great vocation of parenting!

• Giving choices is good, but don’t burden them by giving them too many choices.

• When they are having a tantrum, the question you should ask yourself is “what is the need here?” and then choose to respond NOT react. Through your calmness you are teaching them that you are in charge and they are not.

• Routine and stability are key! When they have a natural flow to their day that is predictable they can tend to be more peaceful.

Couple Discussion Questions

• What are our natural responses to our toddlers? What do we think about that?

• What are our toddlers emotional outbursts like? What triggers them? How can we respond?

• What is our normal routine for our children? Is this working for them?

• What do we do with our toddlers at mass? Is this is a good plan?

Notes:

• The Absorbent Mind (Montessori book)
• Articles on toddlers from Focus on the Family (Christian website)