40 before 40? So over! It’s all about 24 before 2 and a half! Here’s my list of things you MUST do before you turn two and a half:
MY MUCK-IT LIST
1. Bungee-jump off a changing table. Nothing beats the thrill of diving for the floor, dangling only by one foot caught in the safety strap and the other in your mum’s hand.
2. Swim with poo-phins. Never mind the most intelligent creature of the ocean, nothing beats swimming with your own floater.
3. Learn a new language. It’s fine to make up your own. Yes = no; no= yes. Mummy = daddy; daddy = mummy. More = if you force one more spoon of that mush into my mouth, I’m going to regurgitate it all over you.
4. Start a retirement fund. Swallow a penny.
5. Tantrum like it’s 1999. Let no floor be un-pummelled, no car seat be willingly sat in, no drink go un-spilt, no mouthful be un-spat, no thing be right. Make mummy cry in public.
6. Do an up-the-backer. If you try really hard, you can push the contents of your nappy right up into your hairline. For extra points, dip your ankles in it while you’re being changed and pound them on mummy’s clean shirt.
7. Seize the day. And the night. Life is for living, people! Sleep is for losers. Never rise later than 5.30am.
8. Get your hand stuck in a vending machine. Preferably while your brother’s running off in the other direction. You’re doing your mum a favour, at least she – and everyone else – knows where you are: you’re the one screaming and refusing to let go of the Fruit Pastilles even though the vending machine flap is closing its grip like a vice.
9. Get your head stuck in the banisters. Railings are also good.
10. Fall face down in a puddle. Best done when you are late for school / the doctor / a bus. More haste, less speed, mother.
11. Decide who your favourite parent is. Clue: Which one does the most for you? It’s the other one.
12. Get your siblings on side. Take the heat for your older brothers and sisters a few times and they’ll have your back forever.
13. Lead by example. If you acquire a younger sibling before you are two, show them how much you love them by bouncing on their head whenever mummy turns her back. Establish that everything is in working order by hitting them all over with your toy hammer. Teach them what pushes mummy’s buttons.
14. Learn how to take your own socks off. This is an invaluable skill. It can keep you occupied for hours in the car / buggy. The key is to lose one or both of the socks just as you get to where you’re going. For example. your own christening.
15. Find a comfort item. Muslins, dummies, blankets, cute floppy bunnies – all these are good. But mummy’s better. Don’t let her out of your sight.
16. Establish a good sleep routine. I suggest feeds and cuddles till approx. midnight, then a couple of wake-ups between 12 and 5.30am.
17. Cut out an entire food group. You should never eat a balanced diet. One food group must be shunned at all costs. Popular ones are Fruit and Veg – but I find these a bit of a cliché. I have chosen Carbs. Yep, watch mother fret about you getting enough calories / eating out and about when you refuse sandwiches now.
18. Get tech savvy. Work out the code to mummy’s phone and delete all her apps. Get to grips with the TV remote and always remember to hide it before you go to bed.
19. Establish good personal hygiene. If this means squeezing the entire bottle of baby wash into the bath, so be it. Wipe your nose on mummy’s shoulder – better out than in. Wash your hands ten times a day, not forgetting to ‘wash’ your whole top and trousers at the same time.
20. Have a 6-month cold. May as well get it over with.
21. Read 100 books. By read, I mean pull off all the “lift-the-flaps”, destroy any turny wheel things, rip out the last page, draw on the cover and stick pages together with puree.
22. Learn martial arts. When you’ve worked out that those wriggly things at the end of your arms are your hands, use them to your advantage. Grab mummy’s hair and close your tiny fist like a vice. Karate chop her on the boob. Roundhouse kick her on the chin while she changes your nappy. Do a running headbutt into her pubic bone. Know your own strength.
23. Decide which colour food you will eat. I have chosen yellow – it’s a goodie: butter (by the spoonful), cheese, Pom Bears, and chips (everyone knows these are not a carb). Laugh in the face of yellow peppers and pineapple.
24. Smile. And the whole world will be round your little finger.
Linking up with #TheList at You Baby Me Mummy and Mums Days.
Ha I love this list especially the swimming with poos – the mucky devils x
Complicated Gorgeousness recently posted…What can I tell you?
Thanks Ali – has happened more times than I care to remember! x
Wry Mummy recently posted…A Day May Come: The Lord of the Rings Speech for Mums
Hilarious!! The vending machine and banister traumatise me somewhat!!!
Beth Twinderelmo recently posted…Burning Kate Middleton Baby Questions
Tell me about it! Vending machine one happens nearly every time. Should just bring my own sweets – DOH! x
Wry Mummy recently posted…A Day May Come: The Lord of the Rings Speech for Mums
Absolutely love this Jess! It really made me chuckle. I have a five year old who still refuses carbs – it’s such a pain when it comes to packed lunches!! Xx
Thanks Emma. Oh the no-sandwich thing, it’s so limiting! xx
Wry Mummy recently posted…A Day May Come: The Lord of the Rings Speech for Mums
Love this! What a great pick-me-up after a looong day 🙂 It is like they’ve set themselves a challenge sometimes isn’t it? Just a shame once it’s been done once it’s not usually ticked off for good.
Munny Don’t Say recently posted…“It is NOT breakfast time. It is lunch time.”
Ha ha, yes, they do like to enjoy each item several (hundred!) times, don’t they?
Another fab post Jess! My 14mo can already tick a few of these off… Reading the list fills me with dread though because he’s already so bloody accident prone!! No. one especially is kind of inevitable isn’t it. Gulp! Have a lovely day in the sunshine xx
Mummy Tries recently posted…Video: How to Make Natural Mouthwash
Thanks Renee! Oh no, hope I haven’t jinxed your toddler now 😉 xx
Wry Mummy recently posted…A Day May Come: The Lord of the Rings Speech for Mums
This is so funny & many things I can already relate to with my 9 month old haha 🙂 #sharewithme x
Mylifeafterlogan recently posted…Holy bump batman!
They like to start early, don’t they?! x
Wry Mummy recently posted…A Day May Come: The Lord of the Rings Speech for Mums
Ha ha love this Jess! Particularly laughed at the ‘Choose your favourite parent’, ALWAYS daddy grrr!
Suzanne recently posted…Surprise! Three Years and I’m Still here….
Oh I know – all mine have preferred Daddy right from the start. Gah. x
Wry Mummy recently posted…A Day May Come: The Lord of the Rings Speech for Mums
We have quite a few destroyed books with the wheel half hanging out 🙂 He’s got better over time. And Z thinks any language besides English is hilarious (we speak 3 between us :))
Wow, lucky kid – between laughing he’ll pick up an incredible vocabulary. So many books have a rip, even though they really love them. Killing with kindness I think! x
Wry Mummy recently posted…A Day May Come: The Lord of the Rings Speech for Mums
This is brilliant, the best post I’ve seen in ages! Number 11 is definitely one we can tick off here.
Charlotte @ Educating Elsa recently posted…A Day at the Seaside
Thanks Charlotte, what a lovely thing to say. Number 11 breaks my heart ;(
Tell me about it! Sometimes (most the time) I hate Daddy for it, even though it’s not really his fault!
Charlotte @ Educating Elsa recently posted…A Day at the Seaside
Yay! Glad to know my toddler has nearly completed his ‘muck it’ list, although he doesn’t have any siblings yet!!
Fab post 🙂
popping over from #sharewithme
Becky xx
Thanks Becky! Toddlers are very efficient little people, aren’t they?!
I am laughing so much at this, especially the 6 month cold. Fab post as ever lovely xxx
Potty Mouthed Mummy recently posted…Wicked Wednesdays #36 | Ooops Upside Your Head
Love this! I think my Archie’s nailed each one at least twice 😉 #ShareWithMe
Toni @ Gym Bunny Mummy recently posted…Wicked Wednesdays | Mr Bloody Potato Head
Thanks Toni! Yes, there’s no limit to how many times they tick each one…
Grace & Lucas say – We think we’ve just found our new Hero!!! Genius!!!!!!! #sharewithme
kidGLloves recently posted…My Captured Moment #15
Ha ha! Glad to be an inspiration; sorry to your mummies!
Crikey, I’m past this stage, but I’m thinking the next 2 years, they then add to that list
Emma T recently posted…Music Exploration with children 13 – classical music
Oh totally agree! It just enters a new league!
Ahhh Jess you just made me chortle in my coffee. Love this list. Think both of mine have succeeded by 2 1/2 with this list. lol It’s fab. Thank you ever so much for linking up to Share With Me #sharewithme
Jenny recently posted…School decisions, shopping sprees and coffee #littleloves
Hilarious!! And oh so true! Shit, what do I have in store for me, my twins are 16 months and sure to have a similar list!
Laney@thelaneyfiles recently posted…How not to be mummy savvy
Haha great list love it! #TheList x
Heehee fab post. My toddler deletes my apps on a regular basis, grrrr! xx
Not A Frumpy Mum recently posted…The Caravan House, School Thoughts & Getting Wet #LittleLoves
Brilliant list! I think mine managed the vast majority of these before turning 3. Does that make me a parenting success?!
Definitely, Helena!
hah love this! I have a 2 and a half year old boy and many of these were familiar….the poo in the bath day was a dark dark day!! And the socks, it drives me mad – he’s always yanking them off especially if we’re getting ready to go out!!
Oh, the poo in the bath – always a joy! I have had more than I care to count – not myself, I mean, haha!
Absolutely love this!! made me giggle! yes, my littles like this list!! xx
Natalie {Little Jam Pot Life – blog} recently posted…Loving the little things 2015 – 16/52
Thanks Natalie, I’m sure your babies could add a few things of their own!
Ha, brilliant! This made me laugh out loud as I can tick off most of these on the list! Fab post, thanks for the laugh! x
Suzanne recently posted…Little Monkey’s blog!
Thanks Suzanne, to be honest I could have made it 48 before 2 1/2, there’s so many japes they get up to, isn’t there? x
Love this! Really made me smile and pretty sure my Toddler has successfully achieved most of these lol #TheList x
Thank you – I’m sure they will achieve all these things and more by the time they’re 2 1/2! x
Love this, read during one if those between 12.30 and 5am wake ups…yawn
Oh yaaawwwwn, poor you 🙁
I love this. Too true, and too funny. We obviously have very accomplished children. 😉 xx
Californian Mum in London recently posted…The Shame of a C-Section
Ha ha, yes they are very clever beings! x
Oh this is so funny Jess. I LOLed at 2 and I did 10 myself recently…the shame!
Thanks for linking up love xx #TheList