Oh, fellow parents! I’ve read countless blogs and articles that delve into the chaos of raising toddlers, and let me tell you, they’re absolutely right. Living with a toddler (or two) is akin to having a rowdy, clumsy party-goer crashing at your house around the clock. Some days, parenting these little whirlwinds feels like a special kind of purgatory.
But, here’s the kicker: there will come a day when you’ll look back at these toddler years with a twinge of nostalgia, perhaps even longing. Because that little bundle of energy making a ruckus in the car seat is going to grow up to be a teenager, and that’s when the real fun begins.
Now, before I dive into the merits of having teens—which do exist, despite the trials—let’s not forget the wonders of toddlers. Those tiny humans are fascinating to watch as they explore the world, and you get to relive your own childhood through their experiences, whether sweet or cringe-worthy. You can have genuine conversations with teens, and they can do things like drive or actually cook without burning down the house. Plus, they usually have personal hygiene down to a science—except when they yell from the bathroom that they need a towel, of course.
I love my teens dearly, which is a good thing since I have four of them living with me. We share laughs, engage in lively debates, and enjoy binge-watching shows together. Yet, the past few weeks have been a bit of a rollercoaster. I had a particularly memorable moment when I spent an hour driving around town trying to find the restaurant where my 17-year-old daughter and her friends were waiting for a ride. Her impatient call—“OMG, Mom, where are you?”—was met with my frustrated scream of “I CAN’T FIND THE MOTHER-EFFING RESTAURANT!” only to realize I was on speaker. Yep, that’s me—the frazzled mom dropping f-bombs in front of her child’s friends.
But then I found myself reminiscing about my kids as toddlers. I felt a swell of emotion remembering my daughter’s little headbands and her obsession with wearing her brother’s training pants under sparkly tutus. She adored her backpacks, and I often called her “Packy” because she always had one filled with her toddler treasures.
Of course, I also remembered the tantrums, the potty training disasters, and the sibling squabbles that seemed to last an eternity. Yet, for a fleeting moment, I yearned for those toddler days. Here are some reasons why toddlers are, in fact, easier than teens:
1. SLEEPING
You’ve probably heard of the book Go the F*ck to Sleep. Well, get ready for my upcoming teen version titled Get the F*ck Up, You’ll Miss the Bus. Teens sleep like vampires, and waking them up is like trying to rouse a corpse. Gone are those mornings of having tiny faces peering at you at 5 a.m. Instead, you’ll need to channel your inner zombie to get them out of bed.
2. TOILETRY MISADVENTURES
Watching your toddler smear lipstick or make a glorious mess with your toiletries is cute and Instagram-worthy. But when you find your expensive lotion stashed under your teen’s bed, along with a pile of tissues, you won’t be eager to share those pics. Trust me, hide the good stuff!
3. HOMEWORK DRAMA
Toddlers have zero homework—score! But teens come with an avalanche of assignments, and while you might not be asked to help directly, you’ll certainly hear them complain about it. And when they suddenly remember a huge project due at 10 p.m. on a Sunday, you’ll find yourself calling your culinary whiz friend in a panic.
4. ODOR OVERLOAD
Sure, toddlers have their share of unpleasant smells, but just wait until your teen discovers Axe Body Spray. You’ll miss the days of changing diapers when your home is filled with overpowering cologne.
5. SLEEPING (AGAIN)
When you have toddlers, you crave sleep but can’t catch a break. With teens, you can finally sleep—but you won’t want to. Why? Because they’re out late, and you’re left worrying about their safety. Your imagination runs wild with every worst-case scenario until you hear from them again.
These are just a few ways toddlers can be less challenging than teens. Of course, we could flip the script and talk about the perks of having teens—like the fact that they can communicate, don’t need help in the bathroom, and can feed themselves without you cutting their food into bite-sized pieces.
At the end of the day, parenting is tough—whether you’re wrangling toddlers or navigating the teenage years. It’s just different kinds of hard. And here’s a little secret: if you look closely, you can still see glimpses of your toddler in your teenager. It might be in the way they smile or the way they curl their hair when they’re deep in thought. When you witness those moments, it can take your breath away, reminding you of the beauty in this wild parenting journey.
So here’s to all of us and our sometimes challenging children, no matter their age. May they keep us on our toes, forever tired, and endlessly loving.
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