Toddler Quotes

“Millions of deaths would not have happened if it weren’t for the consumption of alcohol. The same can be said about millions of births.”
― Mokokoma Mokhonoana

“New mothers are often told that once they've fed, burped, and changed their baby they should leave their baby alone to self-soothe if they cry because all of their needs have been met. One day I hope all new mothers will smile confidently and say, "I gave birth to a baby, not just a digestive system. My baby as a brain that needs to learn trust and a heart that needs love. I will meet all of my baby's needs, emotional, mental, and physical, and I'll respond to every cry because crying is communication, not manipulation.”
― L.R. Knost, Two Thousand Kisses a Day: Gentle Parenting Through the Ages and Stages

“The average adult hates being treated like a child, unless it suits them.”
― Mokokoma Mokhonoana

“The sun was a toddler insistently refusing to go to bed.”
― John Green, The Fault in Our Stars

“We are imperfect humans growing imperfect humans in an imperfect world, and that's perfectly okay.”
― L.R. Knost

“You're going to make mistakes as a parent. It's literally inevitable. You're human, and mistakes are just part of being human. It's how you handle your mistakes that matters most. Acknowledge them. Apologize for them. Make them as right as possible. Learn something from them. And then let them go. It's okay. I promise. After all, how else will our little humans learn that it's okay to be human.”
― L.R. Knost

“With regard to things such as independence, mental capabilities, and sexuality, a very old man is nothing but a gigantic infant with white hair and wrinkles.”
― Mokokoma Mokhonoana

“Becoming a parent doesn't make you less of a woman. You matter. Your happiness matters. Your health matters. Your dreams matter. Today do at least one thing for you. Take a walk in the rain. Meet a friend for coffee. Write in your journal. Read a book. Plan a trip. Hug a tree. Help a stranger. Create something. Grow something. Sing something. Learn something. Whatever it is that makes you smile, do a little of it each day. Your children are watching. Let them see you happy.”
― L.R. Knost

“Lila harboured an unspoken belief that motherhood was the best possible rehearsal for a prospective police officer.. Mothers were naturals for law enforcement, because toddlers, like criminals, were often belligerent and destructive.
If you could get through those early years without losing your cool or blowing your top, you might be able to deal with grown-up crime. The key was to not react, to stay adult..”
― Stephen King, Sleeping Beauties

“Night waking isn't the sign of a bad baby. It's the sign of a normal baby. Nighttime needs are as valid as daytime needs and nighttime parenting as necessary as daytime parenting. Crying is communication, not manipulation. Respond to your baby's cries, even if all they need is to know you're there. You're not being manipulated. You're being a parent.”
― L.R. Knost

“Sticks and stones may break bones, but words can shatter souls. Choose carefully the words you say to others. Choose wisely the words you say to yourself. Words have a way of becoming truths we believe about ourselves. And what we believe, we become.”
― L.R. Knost

“It is a sign of immaturity to believe that being older than someone (automatically) makes you more (mentally) mature than them.”
― Mokokoma Mokhonoana

“Although every person makes mistakes, not every mistake makes a person.”
― Mokokoma Mokhonoana

“Many believe that parenting is about controlling children's behavior and training them to act like adults. I believe that parenting is about controlling my own behavior and acting like an adult myself. Children learn what they live and live what they learn.”
― L.R. Knost

“Our parents would not be ‘The best parents in the world’ (to us) if they were not our parents.”
― Mokokoma Mokhonoana

“PLACEMENT
The Physical Transference of Care and Saying Good-bye

"A toddler cannot participate in a discussion of the transition process or be expected o understand a verbal explanation. [They benefit] tremendously by experiencing the physical transference of care, and by witnessing the former caregiver's permission and support for [their new guardians] to assume their role. The toddler pays careful attention to the former caregiver's face and voice, listening and watching as [they talk] to [their new guardians] and invites the [guardians'] assumption of the caregiver's role. The attached toddler is very perceptive of [their] caregiver's emotions and will pick up on nonverbal cues from that person as to how [they] should respond to [their] new family. Children who do not have he chance to exchange good-byes or to receive permission to move on are more likely to have an extended period of grieving and to sustain additional damage to their basic sense of trust and security, to their self-esteem, and to their ability to initiate and sustain strong relationships as they grow up. The younger the child, the more important it is that there be direct contact between parents and past caregiveres. A toddler is going to feel conflicting loyalties if [they] are made to feel on some level that [they] must choose between [their] former caregiver and [their] new guardians ...”
― Mary Hopkins-Best, Toddler Adoption: The Weaver's Craft

“The moment you realize that you aren't creating a cut-and-paste version of yourself, but rather nurturing a stunningly unique individual with thoughts and feelings and hopes and fears and opinions and preferences and plans and interests of their own is the moment parenting becomes an adventure instead of a challenge. It's a simple shift in perspective that creates a world of difference.”
― L.R. Knost

“It’s Ms. Hilda’s magic drawer! That’s where Ms. Hilda finds everything we need. Crayons, papers, glitters, candies, everything!”
― Tamar Bobokhidze, Nora's First Day at School

“BIG connections are created when BIG people care about the little things that matter to little people.”
― L.R. Knost, Whispers Through Time: Communication Through the Ages and Stages of Childhood

“Young children also play to learn about the world. Why aren't we amused when our toddler drops her food off the high chair for the hundredth time? Because we know about gravity (and we have to clean it up).
She, however, is extremely amused, because everything about the universe is new and interesting and open to playful discovery.”
― Lawrence J. Cohen, Playful Parenting: An Exciting New Approach to Raising Children That Will Help You Nurture Close Connections, Solve Behavior Problems, and Encourage Confidence

“Improvement, to be found in all things.”
― Alogaristw

“We can all share with Nora and then she will have breakfast too!”
― Tamar Bobokhidze, Nora's First Day at School

“This not how you hide, Corin!”
― Tamar Bobokhidze, Nora's First Day at School

“The AI told her not long ago that her "Why?" period might have been the shortest on record - because Mum and Dad answered every "Why?" in detail AND made sure she understood, so she wouldn't ask that particular "Why?" again.
After a month "Why?" wasn't fun anymore, and she went on to other things.”
― Anne McCaffrey, The Ship Who Searched

“The solution to every parenting problem starts with nine little words:

'I'm here.'
'I hear you.'
'How can I help?'

When needs are met through connection, hearts are opened to gentle, respectful, compassionate correction.”
― L.R. Knost, The Gentle Parent: Positive, Practical, Effective Discipline

“The goal of parenting shouldn't be to prepare children to withstand the world, but to grow children who will change the world.”
― L.R. Knost

“Babies have the tendency to make adults talk like babies.”
― Mokokoma Mokhonoana

“Ignorance and curiosity often make toddlers do things that make them seem suicidal.”
― Mokokoma Mokhonoana

“...at this moment in time my son was just a little over two and we were in the midst of the most animal-like fights over eating, sleeping, and in general: how to be a person. He wanted to be more like a raccoon and I wanted him to be more like a human. And in trying to cajole and beg him to do that I turned into a raccoon myself. A large, female one who didn't sleep or eat enough, and was cranky all the time because of it. So essentially in trying to teach him how to be more like me, I became him.”
― Jessi Klein, I'll Show Myself Out: Essays on Midlife and Motherhood

“Wow. Just wow. I’m losing a game of cards to an advanced toddler. This is great.”
― Ardin Patterson, Feral