Let's Look - Toddler Life

Well, today's Let's Look is supposed to be about managing "teenage life," but since our house is full of littles, I thought it was only fitting to change it to "toddler life" for us... Just a few random tidbits that come to mind when we think of toddler life right now for us...

We have an almost three and a half year old and an almost fifteen month old, and our house is never low on high-fun, high-energy, and high-emotion moments hahaha Learning with Jane and Andy along with my five years in the classroom, here are just a few of our top things that come to mind when it comes to managing toddler life over here for us... 

1. Remaining calm

Well, I kind of feel like we're at that stage and season of life that this is our first response to almost everything these days... When we are calm and remain calm, all things seem to go so much better.

Someone screaming? Remain calm. 

Both crying? Remain calm.

Bedtime past the point of no return? Remain calm. 

Flight going terribly wrong? Remain calm. 

Drink spilled everywhere with laptop on the table? Remain calm. 

Mass chaos happening around you and you are trying to finish a conversation, a task, or anything really? Remain calm... Hahhaah 

Toddlers are FUN and busy and chaotic and remaining calm just seems to go a really long way usually with emotionally crazed little ones haha 

2. Flexibility 

Which really leads me to number two... Flexibility... I would say Pierce and I have both always kind of been "go-with-the-flow" people naturally, but having kids has taken it to the next level for sure. Just when we think we "have a plan" or are in a "good rhythm" or think we know what the next few weeks, days, hours 😉 look like, something happens that makes us realize once again we must be so. flexible. 

3. Redirecting...

Well, when I asked Pierce if he had any thoughts on this topic, this was the one thing he immediately said hahaha When you have toddlers, this is basically a second full-time job. Everything is "redirecting" in a way to keep anyone on task and for anything to get done...it's just the amount of "creativity" in that redirecting that slightly varies depending on the situation hahaha 

4. Protein, protein, protein... 

My parents would laugh at this, but I don't know if I could mention protein more if I tried hahaha I just have seen first hand the DIFFERENCE it makes in mornings, afternoons, long days, big moments, small moments, out-of-the-house moments, at-home moments, bedtime, nap time, you name it, their protein level makes the difference haha And really it all goes together with protein, fiber, fats, whole foods, but protein can truly make a moment go from hysteria to logical thinking in a few minutes... 

I listened to this podcast that Just Ingredients did last year, and I loved the insightful tips about snacks and food choices can really make such a difference in meltdowns, hard moments, etc. 

We try to incorporate as much protein in things as we can, and I have come to love Just Ingredients Plain Protein. I will put it in pancakes, smoothies, muffins, oatmeal, peanut butter and apples, pretty much anything that I can mix it in with, and on top of eggs, meat, nuts, a few "protein bars" that I like, we try to get in as much as we can and always notice a difference in their days... If you have protein snacks/tips you love, I would LOVE to hear them too!! 

5. Sharing... "When you are finished with that, may I have a turn please?"

This one has made a BIG difference for us... I have come to love the phrase, "When you are finished with that, may I have a turn, please?" It seems to really help equip littles with what to do when they want to play with a toy that someone else has and gives them another option other than just "taking." I have seen big dynamics shift just by using this little phrase. 

A sweet friend recently told me about a book, "How to Talk so Little Kids Will Listen," which I've recently picked up and it's filled with little tips, phrases, redirections for little ones. It's sometimes the simplest things that help in the biggest ways!!! 

Also, I have loved the "Training Young Heart" series of books. We have "What are Hands For?", "What are Mouths For?", and "What are Eyes For?" and all of them have been great for Jane and Andy and make for great little gifts too as they talk about how to use your hands, mouths, eyes, etc and always point back to Jesus and make things like this very practical for them. 

6. Helping around the house "for the family" 

I have seen first hand in our home, in friends' homes, and in the classroom how littles helping can really be such a good thing. YES, it *usually* makes things take longer, is usually not done "perfectly," and sure I could do it much faster and more efficiently by myself, but I love seeing the little glint of accomplishment and how proud they are when they finish. We try to start small, but try to always include them in things we are doing "for the family" too. It's definitely a sweet part of having littles around for sure. 

7. "Ride the wave"

This is a phrase we came up with after Andy was born and we would find ourselves in a situation where both were crying hysterically about something... It really did feel like a "wave" because it was HIGH stress and emotion and then SO calm once the moment was over... Now, whenever there is high stress, we just say, "Ride the wave," and it makes us both smile and almost chuckle instead of giving into the high stress moment haha

8. Having fun and saying "yes." 

And lastly, I am trying to just ENJOY this season with littles. I'm trying to say "yes" to as many things as I can. I'm trying to not stress over little things. I'm trying to have slow mornings and fun afternoons and let them be kids. I'm trying to let them get dirty and muddy and not stress about things that can be washed. I'm trying to get outside and enjoy fresh air and cool breezes and hot sunshine and rain showers too. I'm trying to do things out of the "ordinary" and make the simple moments memorable, for myself and for them. It's a fleeting season I know, and I'm trying hard to not stress and just ENJOY. It's not possible every time in every situation, but I do find that I'm much more likely to have FUN when I am in a mindset and heart of thanking the Lord for the many blessings I have, as little as they may seem. Gratitude really is an antidote to SO many things, and for me in this toddler season, it has been a real blessing to lean into. 

And there are just a few random thoughts and tidbits I am learning about toddler life... I am so far from an expert, but it's fun to journey along and learn as we go, trusting that the Lord is leading and giving wisdom to parent in a way that brings Him glory. I of course ALWAYS love hearing so many little tidbits from you too. I've learned so much from so many moms and friends on here!! Thanks for following along and thanks Shay and Erika too for the fun blog link-up today!

Sending lots of love and here's to enjoying the season where the Lord has us, whether toddlers or teenagers!
XOXO
💕Tab