I found this poster of the “Toddler Rules of Ownership” displayed at my kids’ daycare center, outside the toddler room. Many of you may have seen it before, but I’m sharing it here because as the mom of a toddler, it CRACKED ME UP!
Toddler Rules of Ownership (by Kevin McHugh)
1. If I like it, it’s mine.
2. If it’s in my hand, it’s mine.
3. If I can take it from you, it’s mine.
4. If I had it a little while ago, it’s mine.
5. If it’s mine, it must never appear to be yours in any way.
6. If I’m doing or building something, all the pieces are mine.
7. If it looks just like mine, it’s mine.
8. If I saw it first, It’s mine.
9. If you are playing with something and you put it down, automatically it becomes mine.
10. If it’s broken, it’s yours.
11. If it is broken, but you are having fun playing with the pieces, it’s mine again.
12. If there is ANY doubt, it’s mine.
My little one, Thor, is turning 2 next week, and he is the quintessential toddler of toddlers.
He has also become a little thief.
When I pick him up from daycare, suddenly he goes on a mission: He runs to the toys in the preschool area, grabs as many little Hot wheels cars that he can hold (he thinks he can hold more than he really can – that’s always entertaining), and runs to the door so he can play with them at home.
He wants them, therefore he thinks they’re HIS.
Often I take the toys from him and put them back. Of course, a toddler tantrum results, and I carry him out to the car kicking and screaming (the teachers and other parents probably think he just loves daycare so much he doesn’t want to leave! Well, that COULD be part of it…they obviously have so many darn cool toys!).
But other times, when I’m exhausted and my back hurts too much to fight him, I’ve let him BORROW the toys for the night, as long as we bring them back the next day (making sure the teachers know – they’re always nice about it!).
One day last week he scored a big yellow dump truck filled with about a dozen little Hot Wheels cars that kept falling out on the drive home. I thought I brought them all back the next day…but then have been finding all these little cars appearing all over the house…either we didn’t bring them all back (we will) or he’s been bringing home more than I’ve noticed since then. Little sneak.
Well anyway, that’s the life with a toddler!!!