I was having a conversation with a fellow parent, Sarah, who has a 2-year-old daughter. She asked me how things were going with the toddler phase, and I shared a recent adventure: my daughter has developed a peculiar habit of sucking milk from her sippy cup, spitting it onto the table, and then slurping it back up again.
“I have no idea where she picked that up, but it’s super frustrating, and we’re doing our best to stop it. But you know how toddlers can be,” I explained. Sarah pursed her lips, lowered her chin, and said, “That’s strange! My kid would never do something like that.”
Her tone suggested she felt fortunate to have a “normal” child (whatever that means), while my daughter seemed to her like some sort of wild creature. Maybe it’s because she has one child and mine is the youngest of three. Or perhaps she just hasn’t experienced the full range of bizarre behaviors kids can exhibit. She might not have yet had to convince a little one that wiping their own bottom is important or that booger art doesn’t belong on the car seat. The truth is, all kids do strange stuff, and it’s downright ridiculous to act superior as if your child is without quirks while mine is clearly a little monster.
Kids Are Inherently Weird
Here’s the reality: Kids are inherently weird. Yours, mine—every kid. They engage in gross behaviors that can catch any parent off guard. When I became a parent a decade ago, I never expected that a large chunk of my arguments would revolve around basic hygiene. I’ve found myself timing my kids to ensure they brush their teeth properly and sniffing socks to confirm they’ve actually changed them. Last night, as my son turned his nose up at a deliciously baked piece of fish, I remarked, “For someone who eats his own boogers, you sure have high standards.”
“Boogers are tasty,” he replied, looking at the meal as if it were beneath him. Kids have a knack for choosing the most inconvenient moments to potty, for eating random bits of trash in stores, and I’ve even had to pry cat poop from my toddler’s mouth. I’ve heard tales from other parents about their kids munching on cat food or turning their diapers into works of art.
All of this gross behavior is completely normal. So, let’s be clear: Children exhibit weird behaviors, and just because your child doesn’t happen to be slurping milk off the table doesn’t mean they aren’t engaged in some other eccentric activity that will have you questioning your parenting choices.
Embrace the Chaos
If you find yourself discussing parenting with another mom or dad and they share something odd their child is doing, resist the urge to judge. Don’t express how grateful you are to have a perfect little angel. The truth is, if your child isn’t doing anything weird, you might be the exception. Your child could benefit from a little more exploration in their world.
Let’s not try to elevate ourselves by putting another parent down. At the end of this parenting journey, we all want what’s best for our kids. We aim to raise them into capable individuals with meaningful goals. We want them to develop into independent adults who can change their socks and avoid putting random objects in their mouths. My toddler’s milk-slinging antics won’t derail that process.
However, getting there—through the phases of booger-eating and milk-slurping—takes patience, effort, and a lot of head-scratching about how these behaviors emerged from your own genes.
Support One Another
In short, we’re all in this together. Let’s support one another, create a community, and when another parent shares their child’s quirky behavior, offer them understanding with a simple, “I totally relate. My kids are weird too.”
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In summary, all kids have their quirks, and rather than judging others, let’s embrace the chaos of parenting together.