My Daughter Thinks Her Poop Doesn't Stink

I've heard that there are three types of toddlers: easy, cautious and spirited. My daughter's stage name could be Little Miss Spirited — she's got it from the top of her head to her toenails. It pulses through her like an energy current, shooting out of her ears and spreading through any room she enters. She is loud and proud. Her confidence, enthusiasm and id run wild, and she thinks her poop doesn't stink.

In actuality, my daughter is living the moment we all dream about. Her self-esteem is at 300%. She thinks she's the bomb (even her stink-bombs). The greatest thing to ever walk the earth. I'm thoroughly convinced she wakes up every morning in complete awe of herself. And quite frankly, why shouldn't she?

Of course, to me she's the greatest person ever — as her mom I'm essentially hardwired to think that. But what truly fascinates me is that she only focuses on her greatness. No one has trampled on her self-esteem. My daughter doesn't feel like she has to compensate for a darn thing. She's not trying to prove anything to anyone. She is who she is, and it's more than enough for her. And, she doesn't know anything different from thinking she's purely awesome.

I don't know about you, but I'd like some of that. How incredible is that!? It's not that she's got it all figured out — for her, there isn't anything to figure out. She is uniquely perfect in herself, absolutely whole and complete. The world has not yet had a piece of her, telling her she's not enough or that she's too much of this or that. She's who she is, unabashed and unafraid. And I am overjoyed for her, and a little jealous that the world has had enough of its way with me — my self-esteem has looked like Swiss cheese at certain points in my life (one of which was directly after she was born).

So how do I tell my daughter to maintain this idea that she is complete, that she was born complete? How do I teach her that she is perfectly perfect already? Not to listen to others (except me!) and stay true to herself, and always pursue the path that makes her feel most like who she already is. Can I, basically damaged goods when compared to her, even impart such a lesson? Shouldn't I be walking the walk if I am going to talk the talk? Um, probably (insert my blushing face here!).

And then it hits me: maybe this lesson is more for me than it is my daughter. Perhaps she's imparting her newfound and dead-on wisdom to me: Mama, you're the perfect version of you, never doubt it! Perhaps that's the lesson in all of this. There are plenty of lessons for her to learn, but as of right now it sure looks like she's got this one down. She doesn't think her poop stinks, and I'm not going to tell her otherwise. Perhaps one day soon, I'll learn that mine doesn't smell so bad either.

Author: Amy