7am on a Saturday and we’re already deep into Candy Land—no coffee, no warning, just full energy from my child while I’m running on empty. It’s chaotic, exhausting, and somehow still one of those moments I know I’ll miss one day.

Toddlers have one volume setting—LOUD. Whether it’s a burst of excitement, a tantrum, or a random shout during their favorite show, the noise is enough to leave me startled and overstimulated. Yet the moment my toddler hears another loud sound, he covers his ears and says, “Too loud, Mama!” Oh, the irony. But even in the chaos, I see the beauty of his growth, his personality, and his becoming—and I wouldn’t trade it for quiet.