'I need a hug': diary of a toddler will make you rethink the terrible twos

During the toddler years, your little one will want to learn, explore, and be independent in a way they weren't as babies.

From tying shoelaces to feeding themselves, it's a lot for a kiddie to take in. 

However much easier it may be for parents to just do it for them, they want to learn – even it means dressing at a snail's pace. 

And this beautiful post by an anonymous mum, really captures how frustrating it is to be little.

'Diary of a 2-year-old' will make you realise why meltdowns are so frequent in the terrible twos. 

"Today I woke up and wanted to get dressed by myself but was told 'No, we don’t have time, let me do it.'

"This made me sad. I wanted to feed myself for breakfast but was told 'No, you’re too messy, let me do it for you.' This made me feel frustrated.

"I wanted to walk to the car and get in on my own but was told, 'No, we need to get going, we don’t have time. Let me do it.' This made me cry.'"

Sometimes sharing is tough to master and play time isn't always a walk in the park. 

"Later I wanted to play with blocks but was told 'no, not like that, like this…' I decided I didn't want to play with blocks any more. I wanted to play with a doll that someone else had, so I took it, I was told 'no, don’t do that, you have to share.'

"I'm not sure what I did, but it made me sad. So I cried. I wanted a hug but was told 'no, you’re fine, go play'." 

It's easy to forget the even the little things can be scary when learning for the first time. 

"I'm not sure what to do. Is someone supposed to show me how to do this? Where do I start? Where do these things go? I am hearing a lot of words but I do not understand what is being asked of me. I am scared and do not move. I lay down on the floor and cry." 

Feeding time is also a frustration for everyone: 

"When it was time to eat I wanted to get my own food but was told 'no, you're too little, let me do it.' This made me feel small. I tried to eat the food in front of me but I did not put it there and someone keeps saying 'here, try this, eat this…' and putting things in my face. I didn't want to eat anymore. This made me want to throw things and cry.

"I can't get down from the table because no one will let me…because I'm too small and I can't. They keep saying I have to take a bite. This makes me cry more. I'm hungry and frustrated and sad. I'm tired and I need someone to hold me. I do not feel safe or in control. This makes me scared. I cry even more." 

They just want to try things out for themselves:

"I am 2. No one will let me dress myself, no one will let me move my own body where it needs to go, no one will let me attend to my own needs.

"I am not allowed to practice my skills of walking, pushing, pulling, zipping, buttoning, pouring, serving, climbing, running, throwing or doing things that I know I can do. Things that interest me and make me curious, these are the things I am NOT allowed to do.

"I am 2. I am not terrible…I am frustrated. I am nervous, stressed out, overwhelmed, and confused. I need a hug." 

After reading this 'Diary of a two-year-old' we'll be looking at our little ones in a whole new light, and maybe take a step back when they do things differently to how we like things done.