Concepts that are impossible to convey to a 2 year old

1. Mommy's sick

This has no meaning for a two year old. You can say it, he can repeat it, you can be coughing up a lung, sneezing, throwing up, have a fever with the worst chills ever BUT that is meaningless. You will still be bombarded with commands to "com ere mommy" and "get up" and "jump mommy". This is one of the hardest parts of all about being a single parent. You truly have no recovery time for yourself even though you need it.

2. After

As in, you can do that AFTER you finish your dinner....or, we'll see grandma AFTER you go to school. All of these comments are met with an emphatic "OTAY!" However, if you drive up to the school or make them sit and finish their dinner before going to play then all hell will likely break loose.

3. That's not yours, it's ______

I must defer to the toddler rules on this one. To a 2-year-old the concept of possessing something is relevant only to oneself. The idea that someone else is the actual owner of whatever object may be in sight at the time is outside the realm of possibility for a 2-year-old. Therefore, if you're a toddler and you see it...it's yours, if you're holding it...it's yours, etc. etc. etc.

Really...they do learn at some point right? :)