The more time I spend with my now 3 year old, the more I realize that he has legit super powers.

It’s pretty impressive really.

By Marie Kondo standards, this kid sparks joy like nothing else. I think I’ll keep him. Which is fortunate, because his return policy was not very good.

Don’t get me wrong, parenting is hard. By far the hardest job I’ve ever had, and I’ve had some doozies. But kid’s take things to a whole other level.

There are the days when they manage to find buttons you didn’t even know you had. Days when they make you feel like the worst parent in the universe, and days when you function more like a sleep deprived zombie than a functioning, much less successful, adult.

It can be downright rough.

And the crazy thing is, they can pull all kinds of these toddler-esque shenanigans for DAYS on end, and then out of the blue, they are there to pick you up when you’re low. To beam happiness into otherwise sad days, and lift our spirits when they are at their heaviest.

And they can do all of it – with the smallest of gestures.

The 530AM Wake-up Super Power

For instance, my toddles possesses the incredible ability to wake me at 530 AM without suffering my wrath.

Anyone who knows me, is well aware of the fact that I have NEVER been a morning person. I would love to be. Sometimes I try to be. But the harsh reality of things, is that I’m not.

Generally speaking, when somebody rouses me from my happy slumber, I don’t exactly greet them with a smile.

But since we’ve been staying close to my parents while my Dad was in hospital, my toddler decided to start waking up at 530 am……..like clock work. While he normally sleeps until 7AM, or when his “little sun comes up” courtesy of one of my favourite child inventions, The Gro-Clock, the early light at our cottage had him up WAY earlier than usual.

He was also sleeping in the same room as me, which likely had a lot to do with the early wake-ups. But in all the wisdom a 3 year old possesses, which turns out to be substantially, he elected to wake me by snuggling up to me in bed, and slowly and softly patting my cheek.

And this is where the super power comes in.

If anyone else did that to me, they’d probably find themselves short a hand. But It’s hard to get mad at your small toddler softly and lovingly stroking your cheek.

In fact, it basically melted my heart every time he did it.

While some mornings I tried me darnedest to keep my eyes shut to see if he would (please, for the love of God) go back to sleep, he’s a persistent little super hero. And he would keep at it until I finally gave in and cracked my eyes open.

At which point I would find his eyes staring intently into mine from about 2 inches away from my face.

The moment he saw one of my eyelids crack a millimetre, he would promptly (and loudly) greet me with an enthusiastic “Good morning Mama!”.

Oh the cheer.

What I wouldn’t give to feel that much cheer at 530 AM. But it definitely wore off on me, in fact, I couldn’t help but answer with a smile.

At 530AM…….what a power indeed.

The Sweet Nothings Super Power

Then there’s his ability to say something so sweet, that you wonder how his little mind came up with it in the first place.

My toddler is notorious for wiping kisses off his cheeks these days. He thinks it’s funny. So when his grandparents, aunt’s, uncle’s or cousins plant a smooch on his cheek, he’s quick to swipe it away with the back of his hand.

But the other night as I was tucking him in to bed, I planted a big kiss square on his lips. He looked at me for a moment, and then grabbed my neck and whispered in my ear: “I never wipe your kisses off Mama. Your’s are the best”.

Um…..what? Who wrote that line for you, you little heartbreaker?!?!?

My heart melted. Literally melted. The warm and fuzzies swept me from head to toe, washing away all the tired from an otherwise long day.

The Consideration Super Power

The there’s his capacity for considering other people. Every parenting book under the sun will tell you that toddler’s are at the centre of their own universe. And about 99.9% of the time, this is absolutely the truth.

BUT every now and again those little stinkers through a curve ball your way, which is probably what makes it so extra startling, and impactful.

This was especially true the past weeks when my Dad was in hospital for surgery relating to his cancer treatment. Out of nowhere, my toddler would make comments like:

• “My really miss Grandpa”
• “Mama, my wonder how Grandpa is feeling today?”
• “My think Grandpa is going to get better and feel really really good.”

And the one that really got me, the day my dad came back out of hospital:

• “My so happy that Grandpa is back.”

And yes, my toddler use’s the word “My” in place of “I” at all times, without exception.

These comments all came out of the blue, unprompted, and of his own making. Each and every time he brought it up, it reminded me how much he cares for the people around him. And how much he really does think about, and consider, the people in his life.

The Culmination of All Those Powers

The really phenomenal thing about all my toddler’s super powers, is the way in which they can make the bad melt away. So that all I feel is the joy and happiness this innocent little being brings into my life on the regular.

It turns out that these super powers particularly shine brightly when the rest of our world feels a bit darker, as it has in mine these days.

Kid’s can be that unrelenting beacon of hope and joy. Of pure happiness. They have the ability to shine their light into every corner, warming our hearts, and raising our spirits.

While my toddler seemingly chooses to wield his immense powers very selectively, amidst the much more common antics of disruption, misbehaviour, defiance, and chaos, when he does use them, it makes everything else absolutely worth it.

And I’m so incredibly grateful for it.