It’s nearly official. Dylan went to bed as a two year old, and when he awakens in the morning it will be his third birthday. Good night, toddler, good morning, preschooler. I’m not sure that I agree with all of those people who say that “it goes by so fast”, but that might be either because not enough time has passed and I’ll be saying it a few years from now or because I have been lucky enough to stay home with him and experience (nearly) every waking moment of his toddlerhood.
There is no one word that sums up the experience of being a parent of a toddler. It touches every possible corner of the human spirit, from elation to utter despair. Watching a toddler grow is a very unique and wonderful experience, and parents of more than one child get to experience it anew because each child’s toddlerhood is different.
Even though Dylan is not heading off to preschool as his age group name would imply because we are going to do home – preschool, the end of his toddler years leaves me as misty – eyed as the mom or dad who just dropped their little one off at preschool for the first time. He’s my first baby, and he has grown so much over the span of just three years.
Although there have been plenty of tears and tantrums, I would prefer to remember the more joyful moments of Dylan’s toddler years. Of course, it all began with the toddling, at about thirteen months of age. Quickly, the walk turned to a run and he has been moving ever since. I am amazed at his agility and coordination. Perhaps even more astounding are the development of his language and personality. He picks up new words almost daily and understands the more subtle forms of human interaction like tone of voice and humor. His charming and engaging personality (in my highly biased opinion) shines brightly much of the time, and the parts of his personality that we struggle with now, intensity and persistence, to name a few, are traits that will serve him well as he grows.
Even though my little guy is no longer a toddler, his toddler years are fresh in my memory. Stay tuned for plenty of tips and helpful information about navigating this challenging and rewarding phase of your little one’s development.