Parenting a Toddler Is Better Than You Think

1 You will be fed copious amounts of s'mores.

Kids love making s'mores, and because they whip 'em up faster than they can eat them, they're often looking for recipients of the melty deliciousness. Enter mom and dad, happily getting fed s'more after s'more after s'more . . .

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2 Cannonballs are a welcome way to enter a body of water.

Prekids, I may have (read: definitely) rolled my eyes at my husband's ridiculous need to enter any body of water with a cannonball, but now it simply brings complete and utter delight to my children and I (as long as I don't get splashed, obviously).

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3 Two words: kids food.

I love that, no matter what, macaroni and cheese and chicken nuggets are always an arm's reach away — and when my kids don't finish theirs, then don't mind if I do.

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4 You have an excuse to actually play on the playground.

Adults hogging the equipment at the playground without kids might be a tad weird, but if you've got a tot in tow, then consider it your all-day ticket for the slide.

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5 You'll always have overhead space when flying.

Why? Because when you have kids, you get to board the plane first — and not having to find a spot for our bag is a huge bonus (though it does require you to actually fly with your toddler).

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6 Your toddler will think your dance moves are amazing.

I'm probably not the best dancer in the world (or even close), but when I have dance parties with my kids, I feel like I could take on Janet Jackson. And the same goes for my singing . . .

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7 You've got an instant exercise buddy.

Sure, exercising with a toddler is not always ideal, but I loved those times when my child and I would head out for a nice jog — and man, pushing that jogging stroller certainly adds to the workout, too.

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8 You always have someone to get you a new toilet paper roll.

And, quite honestly, they'll be happy to do it — though trying to explain where to get it is always a challenge.

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9 You'll always have someone who will join you for an ice cream run.

Kids will eat ice cream anytime, anywhere. So if you've got a sweet tooth or just a hankering for a sundae, your toddler will always join you for any ice cream runs.

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10 You get to resurrect your old toys.

You may have thought it was a little silly that your parents kept your old toys. That is, until you had your own child and were able to pass them down. And then it's awesome, not only to see your playthings again, but to see your tot playing with them.

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11 You can use the HOV lane.

Yup, infants and toddlers count. So move on over, and watch the standstill traffic fade away in your rearview mirror.

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12 You can play kids games again.

Love Candy Land, Chutes and Ladders, or Hungry Hungry Hippos? Toddlers love playing games with their parents, so break out the games, and have a great time.

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13 You get to have fun with this dude.

Some people get annoyed at their Elf on the Shelf, but many a mama has a grand old time putting theirs into hilarious predicaments and positions.

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14 You will always have freshly picked flowers.

Sure, maybe it's a weed or flowers that you just had planted, but kids love bringing their parents plants that they've found and picked — and it's just about the sweetest thing ever.

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15 Halloween becomes awesome again.

Maybe it's just me, but as an adult, I was never into the whole Halloween thing. Now that I've got kids, dressing in costume is awesome again — and I love watching their eyes light up when I appear in costume.

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16 They'll embrace your hobby.

Toddlers naturally love what their parents love (for the most part), so whether it's Star Wars, football, or the Grateful Dead, your tot will happily be just as passionate about it as you are.

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17 You can go to Disney World (and enjoy it).

The happiest place on earth was made with kids in mind, so if you're a big Disney fanatic, you've got a good excuse to go as often as you'd like (or as your wallet permits). Obviously those without kids can also visit Disney, but waiting in hour-long lines for Peter Pan's Flight is much more reasonable when you've got a child who's bursting with excitement.

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18 Coloring is back on your radar.

I don't know about you, but I loved coloring as a kid (and a teen, for that matter), and now that we've got about a billion coloring books laying around, I've rekindled that joy again.

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19 You will always have a helper.

During the toddler years, your child will almost always be willing to help you with any task. And while it may not always be helpful, it's still pretty fun to have a partner in crime for the mundane parts of life.

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