The One With The Absurdity Of Parenting A Toddler

Searching for meaning (and the AC remote) in the toddler world.

No one warns you that parenting a toddler feels like living with a tiny, unpredictable roommate who doesn’t pay rent, trashes the place, and wakes you up at 3 AM just to check if the panda, bunny, and the elephant on the wall are still there. And yet, here we are, smiling through the crumbs, the chaos, and the constant mystery of ‘what’s that smell?’

Parenting a toddler is a masterclass in embracing the absurd. It is like a daily performance where the script is constantly rewritten by an exuberant director in a onesie. Here, you have to enact several roles such as, joker, doctor, teacher, etc., all in the same play! But you are not just the cast who is trying hard to decipher the script but also the crew fixing the stage and the audience clapping enthusiastically at every little thing.

Being their cheerleader is the fun part where you have been given an exclusive front-row seat to the most hilarious and heartwarming show you will ever see. But beware, the show is unpredictable. One moment, they are giggling at a silly face you make, the next, they are launching a full-scale meltdown because you have refused to let them play with the shiny but sharp kitchen object they deeply desire.

The unpredictability becomes apparent when things just keep vanishing: AC remote, keys, and, most importantly, sleep. This constant search transforms you into amateur detectives, where you use all your deductive skills to find the missing AC remote, only to stumble upon it inside the refrigerator — a testament to the crazy logic of a toddler’s world.

Their weird logic also has its upside because this unpredictable nature, while often frustrating, is also the source of immense joy. For instance, sometimes, parenting a toddler is like; having a tiny best friend who thinks you are the most amazing person in the world, even when you look like a caveman with dark circles and light brain fog! Their smile motivates you to run the parenting marathon even when you have to do it while juggling formula-milk bottles and diapers without the finish line in sight!

However, that motivation is often tested by the sheer chaos of their world which manifests as trying to solve a Rubik's Cube while blindfolded, with one hand holding the toddler who wants to lick the cube, and the other hand being covered in some liquid that you really hope is just spilled formula milk, but you suspect might be something else entirely.

But amidst the chaos, there's a profound rediscovery of the simple joys of life. Sometimes, parenting a toddler is like rediscovering the tiny joys of life that come with experiencing moments from their perspective, such as being fascinated by a fallen leaf.

The way their eyes light up at the sight of a butterfly or the sheer wonder they express at the barking of a dog reminds you to appreciate the small miracles that often go unnoticed. Then, you are on top of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs pyramid where your self-actualised self is reading Goodnight Moon to your toddler! Such moments of connection create a sense of fulfillment that transcends the daily struggles.

The absurdity of parenting a toddler is not a bug in the system that needs to be fixed but a feature that needs to be relished, because it is one of the most purposeful things you will ever do in your life knowing that there is no defined purpose to life.

And if you ever feel like you are crazy for reading articles with titles like ‘What your baby’s poop tells about their health’, just know that you are not alone. We are all out here, starring in the same ridiculous show, just with slightly different stains on our shirts.

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