1. Giving praise….
You gotta love those proud mama moments . It’s hard to contain your excitement when your little one does something noteworthy and exciting. But for some reason, when it comes to toddlerhood, your child’s name doesn’t exist when giving praise. As with a dog, you find yourself bending down to eye level, clapping excitedly, and uttering the words, “Good guuurl!” or “Way to go, buddddy!” No wonder my son rarely responded to his name the first year of his life. Poor kid thought his name was “buddy” all this time. It’s all beginning to makes sense now. Sorry, pal.
2. Escapees…
Both dogs and toddlers stray. They are master escape artists….always on the loose, getting into some sort of mischief. And somehow, magically, it is always timed perfectly. You become slightly distracted, not paying close attention…and just as you turn your head for a split second….BAM, they flee! They are off running and YOU’RE IN TROUBLE. See, dogs and toddlers are curious little creatures, always wandering about! So, to maintain a slice of sanity, we invest in fences/gates/cages/electrical collars….anything to keep them within a specified boundary (well, maybe not the collar)! Until they learn more self restraint….it’s your only option.
3. Mini Trash Collectors…
Oh no, what did they just pick up and put in their mouth? It’s that inevitable moment when you notice their tiny little jaws moving ever so slightly. You see, both dogs and toddlers have the tendency to fancy things that are shiny or items that aren’t edible….you know, pennies and shoes and wrappers of all kinds. As moms, we are left having to pull out our MMA moves on them to pry open their mouth and retrieve the hidden treasures inside.
4. Dress up time…
When you become a mom, your child automatically will be more stylish than you. Funds will go directly to cute accessories and clothes that make them look more adorable than they already are. The same goes for dogs. From hats to sweaters to shoes….you can really go overboard, which is the case most of the time. The kicker is that both your toddler and dog show no enjoyment out of it whatsoever. Majority of the time they probably think, “Get this dumb outfit off of me. I look absolutely ridiculous, mom!” Meanwhile, we stare adoringly and think to ourselves, “How cute are they?!” So, we continue on our spending spree….justifying our decision in blowing away $.
5. Toys, Toys, Toys…
6. Puddles of Drool…
He sees the bone and drool instantly forms around his mouth. Dogs drool A TON…..but I think it is safe to say that a teething toddler produces more saliva than a dog awaiting his tasty treat. The excessive amount of drool that comes from a toddler’s mouth can certainly compete with the puddles of drool from your dog as he begs for food at the dinner table. This is just something you can’t prevent. Living with a toddler or dog is a messy endeavor.
7. Bedtime buddies…
While dogs and toddlers both make great snugglers, no one really ever warns you about their bed hogging habits. Whether you have a dog or child, just get used to the fact that sleep will be minimal. You will begin the night in a comfortable spot with enough covers to keep you warm. Fast forward to morning and you wake up on the edge of the bed, just barely hanging on, with a paw or leg laying across some part of your body. Yep, that’s the nature of the game.
8. Makin a mess…..
Toddler and dogs always manage to find a way to get a hold of the toilet paper. I have no idea what what is so fascinating about it, but it seems to bring about pure joy….unraveling the entire roll until it is simply a giant pile of white fluffiness sitting on the bathroom floor. Yes little one, I realize that your diaper gets changed for you. And yes my animal friend, I realize that the pooper scooper cleans up your business, but would you both be so kind to leave a little TP on the roll so we can get through our day?! That would be lovely. We would really appreciate the effort.
9. Potty Training madness….
Prior to potty training a toddler or a puppy, you may want to have a few glasses of wine waiting in the wings. Because it is often hard to reason with either one, this task can become quite difficult. Incentives and reinforcements should be used generously, especially for you, momma! Give yourself some chocolate and stickers and pats on the back…or anything that will help you keep it together. It’s going to be a long road once you get started!
10. Spreading the love…
Raising a toddler and owning a dog are very much the same. There will be a lot of challenges along the way, but NOTHING beats the wet, slobbery kisses they give you at the end of the day. Worth it all!
