Oh my goodness! Oh my goodness! Oh my goodness, we’ve got ears, so let’s hear some cheers! The Mickey Mouse Clubhouse! Right now, I can’t stand it. We don’t watch much TV, but when the clock strikes 5 p.m. and I’m in the kitchen trying to whip up dinner while my kids are climbing all over me, I hit that remote. Welcome to “witching hour survival mode.”
In my home, it’s become a universal truth that the only acceptable TV show is Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. It’s like toddler magic. I sometimes put it on just to grab a few minutes to enjoy my coffee. When I return with my warm cup of joy, I can’t help but laugh. My kids look like they’ve stepped off a wild ride—one is sans pants, the other has a tangle of fluff in their hair, and both are blissfully unaware of the mess they’ve made. But they’re so happy!
If you want to keep the little ones content, it’s simple: just put on Mickey.
“Want to watch Thomas?”
“ Nope, Mickey it is.”
“How about Nemo?”
“Only Mickey, please.”
“Or Elmo?”
“Mickey!”
Now, for the 1% who haven’t seen Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, let me catch you up. It’s like a toddler’s first glimpse of classic sitcom characters. Mickey and Minnie are that couple you’ve known forever, constantly sharing pictures of their adventures. Donald is Mickey’s not-so-bright best friend, Daisy is the stereotypical beauty, and Goofy is that random guy who shows up at parties, but no one really knows how he got there. Seriously, he’s a dog with a pet dog—what’s up with Pluto never talking? Is he really just a kid on a leash? We may never know.
But let’s talk about a character who stands out in this little dreamland: Toodles. Toodles is like a mechanical buddy who provides anything you could possibly need in any sticky situation. Want a bicycle pump? Got it. Need an extra car seat? Toodles is on it. Looking for a mystery tool that could make life better? Yes, please! All you have to do is shout “Oh Toodles!” to summon this magical help.
You might be wondering why I’m pondering the social dynamics of a children’s show and its robot friend. Fair question. Maybe it’s because it’s 4 a.m., and my toddlers have decided it’s time to rise. Or perhaps it’s because they pooped, and instead of changing them, my partner brought them into bed with me. He didn’t realize they needed a change. I discovered that delightful surprise this morning. So, yeah, no judge is going to buy that excuse. Or maybe it’s just that my coffee hasn’t even kicked in yet.
You grasp the chaotic parenting morning I’m talking about? It’s a time when I’d rather be sleeping, yet my kids have their own plans. In my foggy mom brain, I started thinking about all the moments this week when I could have really used Toodles to help me tackle my #momproblems.
Here are a few scenarios where Toodles would have come in handy:
- Commutes to Work
I just finished a long day at work and found myself alone in a dark parking lot during a freezing New England winter. I opened my Jeep to grab my ice scraper, only to remember that my 2-year-old had been playing with it yesterday. I thought I’d put it back in the car but clearly didn’t! Ohhhh Toodles! I’m using my son’s snack cup to clear the ice—could you drop off an ice scraper? Much appreciated! - Unexpected Accidents
Ohhhh Toodles! I need a new pair of pants! That sneeze took me completely off guard, and my emergency Jeep pants were used up yesterday. Help a mom out! - Toddler Chaos
Ohhhh Toodles! Please, I need a hose! The mess is unreal! - Adventures with Toddlers
Ohhhh Toodles! They run in opposite directions! GET ME A LASSO, A LARGE COFFEE, UNLIMITED CLEANING SUPPLIES, and maybe a Xanax, too. - Every Day, All Day
Ohhhh Toodles! Can you whip up a time-freeze gun? I want to hold on to this moment forever, poop and all.
In the end, I realized something profound: I am Toodles. Every mom embodies Toodles in their own way.
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Summary: This humorous piece explores the chaotic life of motherhood, highlighting the need for a magical helper like Toodles from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Through relatable anecdotes, the author humorously illustrates the daily challenges moms face and recognizes that every mom is a hero in her own right.