They say that raising a toddler is similar to raising a teenager. Both are desperately trying to establish their independence and both can be exceedingly frustrating in their lack of communication. While I most certainly see the parallels, there are some instances where I really do hope that toddler behavior isn’t going to come back when she’s in her teen years.

• Running around naked with a fist full of Mardi Gras beads, adorable as a 2 year old…shameful if I catch her doing it at 18. The same goes for her predilection for running around in boots, sunglasses and her underwear. I do not want my baby girl to end up like “Bang Bang Bart” (ah remember when The Simpsons were still funny).

• My daughter is very affectionate and loves to give hugs and kisses to her little friends, most of whom are boys at this point. I think it is super sweet now, but let’s be honest,  I’m going to be a little bit more worried about it when she’s say 16.
• Her shoe and bag obsession is fine now, toddler shoes are relatively cheap and she doesn’t get into too many of my purses…but man am I hoping she ends up with smaller or bigger feet then me and stays out of my closet (however with two daughters, I’m pretty much doomed to having my accessories pilfered).
• The tantrums which is definitely NOT adorable now and will be even less so when she’s older, I think one of my greatest fears is that I’ll fail her as a parent and I’ll end up responsible for a Veruca Salt (only without the charming British accent).

Then there was this hilarious blog post going around from Suburban Snaps a couple of years ago that my husband and I both read and didn’t grasp fully until our oldest hit about 18 months and were were like GAH THAT BLOG POST IS OUR LIFE!! So for those of you that missed it.

10 Reasons Why Having a Toddler is Like Being at a Frat Party

10. There are half-full, brightly-colored plastic cups on the floor in every room. Three are in the bathtub.

9. There’s always that one girl, bawling her eyes out in a corner.

8. It’s best not to assume that the person closest to you has any control over their digestive function.

7. You sneak off to the bathroom knowing that as soon as you sit down, someone’s going to start banging on the door.

6. Probably 80% of the stains on the furniture contain DNA.

5. You’ve got someone in your face at 3 a.m. looking for a drink.

4. There’s definitely going to be a fight.

3. You’re not sure whether anything you’re doing is right, you just hope it won’t get you arrested.

2. There are crumpled-up underpants everywhere.

1. You wake up wondering exactly how and when the person in bed with you got there.