We all have that one friend who seems to come with a long list of disclaimers. You know the type: “He’s usually pretty chill,” or “You just have to understand his sense of humor.” After a while, you start to wonder if maybe it’s time for them to own up to their behavior. Lately, I feel like that about my son.
Truth be told, he can be quite the handful. While he often brings his cheerful energy, the last few months have been particularly trying. Initially, when we’d visit friends and he’d start acting out, I’d find myself making excuses: “He skipped his nap,” “He’s teething,” “He’s just not a fan of this lighting,” or “Feeding him too late was a mistake.” However, I’ve come to a realization—I’m done with the excuses.
At just about three years old, it’s high time for him to take some responsibility for his actions. Yes, he’s a toddler, and we can’t expect perfect behavior, but that doesn’t mean I should shoulder all the blame. Just yesterday, while out for drinks with friends, my partner arrived later with our little one, who typically warms up to new people. Instead, he buried his face into her neck and erupted into screams whenever someone looked his way. Instead of sugarcoating it, I simply said, “Don’t mind him; he’s just being a brat.”
It feels freeing to adopt this perspective. This doesn’t mean I’m advocating for unchecked behavior. We still discipline him and play a crucial role in shaping who he will become, but the “terrible twos” are a universal phase every parent faces. We just need to navigate through it. As I see it, if he continues to act out, he risks ruining his own reputation at every local spot.
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In summary, parenting a toddler can be a rollercoaster ride. While it’s important to guide them, we must also recognize when they are simply being themselves. Empowering them to take ownership of their actions might just be what they need to grow.