'Tell me you’re in the toddler stage without telling me you’re in the toddler stage.'

Thanks to our brand partner, NAN Toddler

My living room looks like a toy store had a fight with a laundry basket — and both lost. 

The floor is an obstacle course of magnetic blocks, oversized stuffed animals and tiny socks that somehow never match.

This morning, I spent 10 minutes at my front door changing my son in and out of his Spiderman costume (and several pairs of shoes) before we could head off. My chai latte has been reheated twice (so far) and last night, I found myself singing 'Who's in the Wiggle House' in the shower, completely alone.

Oh hey, I didn't see you come in. If it wasn't immediately obvious, I have a toddler.

Perhaps peeking in at this chaos you'd be tempted to say, "yikes, no thanks" (and maybe you would be right), but isn't the messy stuff kind of what makes life interesting?

Sure, sometimes outings are exhausting. But there's something magical about watching my little one discovering the world one tiny revelation at a time.

Yesterday when we walked home with the pram, he played hide and seek with his shadow on the wall next to us. Watching him, I stepped into this beautiful suspension — one where there were no unanswered emails or yet-to-be-cooked dinner waiting for me at home. There was just me and my three-year-old playing with his mysterious new friend.

Life with a toddler is full of moments that stop time.

I recently told my son to be careful with my bracelet because it was "very delicate". Days later, home from daycare with his own hand-made bracelet, he told me, "be careful with it mummy, it's very pelican," and I swear to you my heart almost burst from the sweetness of his little faux pas.

But let's be honest with each other here, because for every heart-stopping bliss-bomb, there's a juggling act happening behind the scenes.

I've become an expert at typing important emails with one hand while keeping my kiddo from unearthing the houseplant with the other. Online meetings involve strategic muting and unmuting as I try to simultaneously field questions such as "why?" and what was the other one? Oh yes, "why?".

The mental load is real.

And just when I think I can handle my workload for the week, an ominous cough will emanate from my son's room or it will be his turn to bring home the class toy from daycare (I'm sorry, but this is just straight up admin).

It's a big ask — shaping a tiny person's development while remembering to change the sheets and pick up his favourite crackers, all while trying to maintain some semblance of a professional life and personal identity.

There are days when I think I'm failing quite literally everyone. Days when I know my son deserves my undivided attention but deadlines loom and chores multiply. So, so many days when the guilt of dividing myself into pieces becomes overwhelming.

So, here's a secret for you, in case you're having one of those days (or weeks, or months) in the toddler trenches:

You actually can't do this alone. Nor should you try.

A support system is not a nice-to-have. It's a must. And it won't look the same for everyone.

I live with a chronic illness and it can be really unpredictable. As a "sick" mum, the hardest thing is wondering if my son is missing out on something because I'm too tired or just not well enough to make it all work that day. But it's also taught me to say yes to every single offer of help.

One of my mum friends spends every Saturday with her toddler while her husband works. She recently told me I could drop my son over anytime — she actually prefers having two kids around so her son has a playmate. In the past, I would've dismissed the offer assuming she was just being polite. But now I take people for their word and simply say YES.

Another thing that helps is staying active on my parent group chat where we trade childcare tips and toddler-parenting hacks. My husband and I also have a shared digital calendar that has probably single-handedly saved our relationship more than once. And we're lucky enough to both have our parents nearby, so we regularly send my little one over for sleepovers with, arguably, his favourite people.

I think most importantly, I've embraced the beautiful mess of it all.

I've lowered my standards on almost everything, but honestly, they were too high to begin with. I've discovered that a 10-minute dance party with my little one brings me more joy than a perfectly completed to-do list ever could.

So yes, my purse is filled with unexplained rocks (where do all these rocks come from?). And the lyrics to 'Baby Shark' are the soundtrack to my nightmares. But I also get to witness daily miracles like my son star-fishing on his dad in bed first thing in the morning and gently saying "back scratchies?".

I'm the first to admit that the toddler years are tough. They're an endurance test and at times they will break you. But you'll rebuild. You'll learn and grow softer.

And honestly? I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Enjoy supplementary to a varied diet for when energy and nutrient intakes may not be adequate. From 1 year of age.

Feature Image: Supplied.

NAN Toddler Milk Drink is here to help you nourish what truly matters. With our science-backed formulations, you can give your little one the support they need to thrive. This way, you can focus on precious moments—like spending quality time together! Enjoy supplementary to a varied diet when energy and nutrient intakes may not be adequate. From 1 year of age.