Between Tantrums

Before I had kids, I thought toddlers cried for very understandable reasons.

You know… things like being tired, hungry, or hurt.

And sometimes they do.

But most of the time, toddlers cry because the universe has personally betrayed them in ways that make absolutely no sense to anyone over the age of three.

This week alone, my toddlers have cried because:

I Cut the Apple Wrong

There is apparently a very specific way apples are meant to be cut.

Unfortunately, that information was not provided to me before the slicing occurred.

I Made Him Put His Shoes On

Leaving the house requires shoes.

This was deeply offensive.

Then I Made Him Take His Shoes Off Later

Apparently shoes are also not allowed in the house.

This is a lose-lose situation.

I Opened the Snack They Asked Me to Open

A classic parenting paradox.

They want help.

But they absolutely do not want help.

Her Socks Didn’t Match

I thought we were doing great because the socks were actually on her feet.

But apparently fashion standards remain high, even during toddlerhood.

I Forgot to Cut Her Sandwich in Half

Whole sandwiches are unacceptable.

Triangle sandwiches? Elite.

Square sandwiches? Risky.

Whole sandwich? Emotional devastation.

I Gave Her the Character Cup Instead of the Pink Cup

The character cup was the correct cup yesterday.

Today it is a symbol of betrayal.

She Didn’t Want to Stand Under the Umbrella

Standing under the umbrella was unacceptable.

Standing outside the umbrella, however, resulted in getting wet from the rain — which was also unacceptable.

Motherhood is full of impossible choices.

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Parenting toddlers is exhausting.

It’s chaotic.

It’s sometimes completely ridiculous.

But it’s also strangely hilarious when you stop and think about it.

Because somewhere between the snack negotiations and dramatic floor collapses…

there are giggles.

There are tiny arms wrapped around your neck.

There are moments where your toddler looks at you like you hung the moon.

And those moments usually happen right after they cried because their sandwich wasn’t cut into triangles.

Motherhood is strange like that.

But honestly, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Even if the socks still don’t match.

Still loving them loudly — even between tantrums.