Toddlers and Dogs

Before my husband and I had a child together, we had dogs. Three of them, to be exact, and they were my babies until our son came along. My son is now 14 months old, and it struck me recently that toddlers are an awful lot like dogs. Here are the reasons I think so:

10. They understand basic commands just fine, but sometimes pretend they don't.

DOG: "Oh, you want me to come here? I don't think so. I think I'll continue to lay in my comfy dog bed."

KID: "Don't eat the crayons? But I want to! The dogs told me it'll make my poop change colors." 

9. Your food always tastes better than their food. My dogs beg at the table and steadfastly ignore their full bowls. (Sorry, future dinner guests. I'll put them up before you come over.) My son insists that he's done eating and politely requests to be let out of his high chair (pointing to the ground, saying "OUT" and signing "please") and when I ask if he's really done he nods and goes, "Uh huh, uh huh". As soon as I put him down, he stands beside my chair with his mouth open, happily accepts a forkful of whatever I'm eating, then walks in a big circle so that he winds up back at my chair with his mouth open. 

8. They make inexplicable messes and look decidedly nonchalant about it. "Oh, I thought you WANTED the dog food / blocks / toilet paper all over the house. My bad."

7. Your own are absolutely adorable, but other people's are kind of funny looking and sometimes annoying. Come on, admit it. 

6. Their attention spans are approximately the same length. This means that games never, ever get old, and, paradoxically, that they're also easily distracted. "AHHHH YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYA PEEKABOOOOOOOO! hahahahahaha Peek-a----- oh, look a BALLLLL!" This makes it nice in some ways, though, because kids and dogs both like balls and kids think it's hilarious to throw the ball to the dog over and over and over. Ahhhh, coffee break for mommy!

5. They get into mischief often, but they're so stinking cute you can't really stay mad.

 

4. They enjoy the small things in life. Like sticks. And walks. And snuggling up to your butt.

3. They live in the moment. One minute they can be really annoyed with you and the next they're happy and carefree.

2. Your bed is always more comfortable than theirs, and they somehow manage to take up room that is bigger than they even are. True story. My husband and I are sometimes allowed to sleep in the queen sized bed that our son and one of our dogs each thinks is his own.

And the number one reason toddlers are like dogs: you are always, always, always the most amazing person ever to them. Be worthy of it.