Disclaimer: I cried ugly tears writing this piece!

Let me start by saying that I have a 2-year-old who I love with all my heart. But let me tell you something: These years are definitely rough.

I saw a post on Facebook today that brought me to tears. It’s a poem called “The Last Time” (the author is unknown). It hit home for me because my oldest is now 7, and sometimes I miss the days when he was younger and he depended on me to carry him! (He is now 70 pounds — ain’t no carrying happening!) 

After reading the poem, I felt compelled to document some of the things our toddlers do that — at times — may drive us crazy or leave us exhausted, but, in the long run, are things we might never relive with our children.

They want us to carry them all. the. time.

My youngest kiddo is 35+ pounds. He has always been a big boy. He loves to be carried. I am about 130 pounds, thin-boned, and just not strong overall, and this boy kicks my behind every time I carry him — even if I use a carrier. I try to remind myself that one day I will not be able to pick him up, because he will be too heavy or because he just won’t need or want it. 

They want to sleep on top of us

Both of my boys enjoy co-sleeping. I know it’s a heated debate, but that’s not what I’m here for. We let them sleep with us. My youngest loves to sleep on top of me. (Despite the fact that it causes me to lose my breath at times.) But one day they will be teenagers, they won’t want to sleep in the same room, they will want privacy, they will go to sleep on their own, they won’t want me to read books to them. Even thinking about it makes my heart sad (ugly tears…). 

They need us to give them baths

I don’t remember the last time I gave my oldest a bath. He is now 7 years old — he is able to do it on his own. He doesn’t depend on me for everything (although I do have to remind him sometimes that he needs to take a bath!). I’m enjoying, while I can, making bubble baths for my 2-year-old and letting him splash water all over (even though I hate the cleaning). He will grow one day, and these little things won’t matter to him and won’t bring the amazing smiles I see in his face now. 

He wants to sit on my lap while I work

I work at home, and most of the time, I’m on my laptop. My 2-year-old is with me 90% of the time. Although my toddler is able to play on his own, he loves to be close to me. He draws, he uses play dough, he watches cartoons, and he wants to do all of this while on my lap. In all honesty, it drives me nuts because I don’t have enough space to work. But yet again, how long will he be interested in sitting on my lap? Forever? No!

So, although I might be exhausted and my toddler might be completely dependent on me, this won’t be a lifelong situation. Let’s all enjoy it, live it, soak it in… because in a blink of an eye these little ones won’t be so little anymore!

Shirley Anne Rodriguez
Shirley is a mother of two handsome boys that are 7 and 2. She is married to a Marine Veteran and has been living in MA since 2011. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, she began her passion for births after her oldest was born but it wasn't until 2016 when she focused her passion into birth photography. Shirley loves chocolate, Puerto Rico beaches and doing crafts with her boys.