I’ll be honest: there are a lot of toddler behaviors, and not just creepy toddler behavior that remind you who's really in charge. I mean, sure, creepiness does the trick on occasion, but so do footie pajamas, snuggles, and spur-of-the-moment hugs that your kid dishes out on a regular basis. Still, when my toddler clearly wants to humble me, and remind me that I have no idea what’s really happening in his head (or in general, for that matter), and that I never will, he’ll do something slightly concerning and creep me the hell out.
To be fair, the mere fact that it’s a toddler committing these acts means we should give them a pass. After all, my kid really has no idea how what he’s doing or how his actions are being interpreted. Still, I can’t help but shake some of the associations I’ve made in regards to my kid's sometimes creepy actions. After all, it's difficult to shake decades of existence and, you know, a sense of social decency. Is there any good reason for someone to grab you and scream during an otherwise relaxed play session? Or to put their hands around your neck? Even when that someone is tiny, adorable, loving, and literally one-half of me, I’m not exactly excited about this kinda stuff happening.
Yes, I realize that I should probably just take a few deep breaths and simply chill when my son does one of the following completely creepy things, but it’s not always that simple. Here’s what I mean: