As parents, we often like to believe we’re in charge, calling the shots and enforcing the rules. But then there’s my 2-year-old, who has truly taken the throne as the ruler of our household.
1. He Controls My Mornings.
The power shift began when he transitioned from a crib to a toddler bed. Without any bars to confine him, he wakes up at the crack of dawn—or earlier—dashing around the house. Attempts to coax him back to bed are in vain, so we eventually allow him into our bed at some ungodly hour. There, he spends his time playing on our phones and bouncing on us. You may wonder why we haven’t installed a toddler lock on his door. Let’s just say he dismantled the first one on day one, handing it back to me with a look that said, “Nice try, Mom.”
2. He’s a Food Thief.
If he spots something on your plate, it’s gone. Better eat quickly! As for treats like fruit snacks? He simply drags a chair over to the top shelf snack cabinet—yes, the same method that worked for his older siblings—to help himself.
3. He’s a Tech Whiz.
In a moment of misguided authority, I told him he couldn’t have a snack because dinner was imminent, nor could he watch another movie. I thought I had him cornered; however, when I returned from doing laundry, he was comfortably settled on the couch, savoring a bag of Doritos while watching Despicable Me. He confidently informed me, “Me put on Mickable Me movie, Mommy. Me have snack too.”
4. He Refuses to Nap.
Every attempt to get him to nap results in him banging on his door or running around his room. He switches the light back on the moment I turn it off. At times, I end up having to physically hold the door closed, as traditional toddler locks are no match for his cunning.
5. No Nap, No Problem.
Eventually, I often concede defeat and let him skip the nap. This decision leads to a tired little bear from 5 p.m. onwards, who refuses dinner and fights bedtime with all his might—screaming, kicking, and even biting as I wrestle him into submission.
6. He Gets What He Wants.
It seems that no one in the family wants to deal with his relentless determination, including me, his siblings, and even the cashier at the store who nervously allows him to take multiple treats from her basket. “It’s fine, he can have two…or three…” she says, with a mix of fear and sympathy as he tries to grab them all.
7. Fearless Little Dictator.
While his siblings are learning to ride bikes, he zooms down the street on his Big Wheel without hesitation. He tries to leap off tables and dive into pools without a second thought. His fearless nature leaves him scraped, bruised, and often bleeding, reminding me that he has no regard for rules or boundaries—because he’s the boss, and he knows it. The rest of us are merely his subjects, living in anticipation of his next move.
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In summary, my toddler has claimed his position as the undisputed leader of our family, and it seems we’re all just trying to keep up with his whims and antics!