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The Sh!t No One Tells You About Toddlers
They're getting bigger. And you're not getting any more sleep.Second in the Sh!t No One Tells You series, in The Sh!t No One Tells You About Toddlers Dawn Dais tells it like it is -- again -- offering real advice for parents of growing children.Coming from one empathetic parent to another, the tips in this book are real, clever, honest, and designed to make life with a terrible two- or three-year-old a little bit more manageable. Hilarious, helpful, and handy, this book will be appreciated by any parent who has "Why didn't anybody warn me that unconditional love would be so much work?"Filled with tips, encouragement, and a strong dose of humor, The Sh!t No One Tells You About Toddlers is a survival handbook for parents on the edge.
242 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 8, 2015
39 people are currently reading
202 people want to read
About the author
Dawn Dais
21 books52 followersDawn Dais is a freelance writer, designer, and filmmaker from Sacramento, CA. Her two previous books, The Nonrunner's Marathon Guide for Women and The Noncyclist's Guide to the Century and Other Road Races, were published by Seal Press, have topped Amazon.com best-seller lists, and have been featured by countless TV and print media sources. Her uniquely sarcastic yet inspiring tone has entertained and guided an enthusiastic core of readers towards their various ridiculous athletic goals. Dais has a popular website, dreaminmotion.net, which has 5,000 members and features downloadable training plans, blogging, and run tracking. Her first film recently received national distribution. Dais lives in Sacramento, CA, with her partner and one-year-old daughter, Vivian.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
September 7, 2015
3.5 stars
I laughed so hard reading this, which was perfect after reading some books that were intense and a couple that were dense (but useful). Much of my teaching over the years has been with toddlers so the title appealed to me right off. I also hoped to learn something.
The author, Dais, is not a child development specialist nor does she have training. She is a mother of two so her knowledge is hands-on and hard won. She supplements her anecdotes with some from a group of women she calls Mothers on the Front Lines who are mothers of anywhere from one to four children and then she has two child therapists to offer expert advice and back up or contradict mom advice. Mostly though the book is the author, offering up her experiences, her advice, and her humor. I'm showing my age here, but at times her voice reminded me of humorist Erma Bombeck. In addition to talking about toddlers, she talks about the stresses that parenting can put on your marriage or relationship and the importance of caring for that relationship as well as caring for yourself.
"The toddler years have arrived, and I'm going to give you all the humor, heart, and honesty you need to survive them. Yay moms!
(Sorry, wine sold separately.)"
To be honest, I didn't find that she had any great revelations about toddlers but that may be because of my own experience. It all seemed obvious to me but I don't think I'm the target audience. As a child care professional, it was good for me to see the parental side of the equation, and I did gain some insight. So, actually, now that I think about, I did learn something. :) For someone just starting out, who hasn't parented, cared for, or taught a toddler before, it'll be even more useful. Dais truly seems to get toddlers and understand how they think and operate, and she was respectful of them. I found that refreshing as so many advice books written for parents show a lack of respect for children. She offers practical advice, and shares, with humor and grace, her parenting fails.
"It's so incredibly helpful to hear other moms tell me how hard this all is. Because so often I start to think I'm the only parent on the planet who is overwhelmed."
More than anything else, that is Dais' gift to her readers - the message that they are not alone, that they will make mistakes, that toddlers are exhausting, but it will all be okay. And to have some wine.
Laugh out loud funny, with some solid advice for parents, "The Sh!t No One Tells You About Toddlers" was a little light on revelations or actually living up to its name but it was a delightful way to spend several hours. And you might even learn something. Please pass the wine.
Posted
I laughed so hard reading this, which was perfect after reading some books that were intense and a couple that were dense (but useful). Much of my teaching over the years has been with toddlers so the title appealed to me right off. I also hoped to learn something.
The author, Dais, is not a child development specialist nor does she have training. She is a mother of two so her knowledge is hands-on and hard won. She supplements her anecdotes with some from a group of women she calls Mothers on the Front Lines who are mothers of anywhere from one to four children and then she has two child therapists to offer expert advice and back up or contradict mom advice. Mostly though the book is the author, offering up her experiences, her advice, and her humor. I'm showing my age here, but at times her voice reminded me of humorist Erma Bombeck. In addition to talking about toddlers, she talks about the stresses that parenting can put on your marriage or relationship and the importance of caring for that relationship as well as caring for yourself.
"The toddler years have arrived, and I'm going to give you all the humor, heart, and honesty you need to survive them. Yay moms!
(Sorry, wine sold separately.)"
To be honest, I didn't find that she had any great revelations about toddlers but that may be because of my own experience. It all seemed obvious to me but I don't think I'm the target audience. As a child care professional, it was good for me to see the parental side of the equation, and I did gain some insight. So, actually, now that I think about, I did learn something. :) For someone just starting out, who hasn't parented, cared for, or taught a toddler before, it'll be even more useful. Dais truly seems to get toddlers and understand how they think and operate, and she was respectful of them. I found that refreshing as so many advice books written for parents show a lack of respect for children. She offers practical advice, and shares, with humor and grace, her parenting fails.
"It's so incredibly helpful to hear other moms tell me how hard this all is. Because so often I start to think I'm the only parent on the planet who is overwhelmed."
More than anything else, that is Dais' gift to her readers - the message that they are not alone, that they will make mistakes, that toddlers are exhausting, but it will all be okay. And to have some wine.
Laugh out loud funny, with some solid advice for parents, "The Sh!t No One Tells You About Toddlers" was a little light on revelations or actually living up to its name but it was a delightful way to spend several hours. And you might even learn something. Please pass the wine.
Posted
April 5, 2020
There is a well-known quote that having a toddler is like having a blender without a lid. This is very, very accurate. I spend a good 60% of my day cleaning up the following: broken crayons, spilled milk, stickers stuck to weird places (like the floor), as well as objects that I can’t even identify anymore. When my daughter turned two, she was an explosion of activity and noise. So. Much. Noise.
And there are days that are really hard, but there are also amazing moments within those days. She is full of hugs, laughter, and she is constantly showing me all that her sponge-like brain knows and can regurgitate. I think though, that it was on one of those hard days, that my husband and I panic ordered this book.
I can’t say that this book was *super* helpful. It’s not really even a parenting book or advice book, per se. Rather, I would put it on the “humor” section of the bookshelf. It’s very funny and relatable, but it’s not the book I would go to when oh say, I need to know how to teach my child not to bite the cat. It’s a fun read and a quick read, but it’s kind of like reading a book about a hurricane when you are experiencing a hurricane. Like, cool….this book is describing my life right now, but what can I do to not die in this hurricane?
Anyway, lovely writing and very fun, but maybe not the advice book I needed at this time.
And there are days that are really hard, but there are also amazing moments within those days. She is full of hugs, laughter, and she is constantly showing me all that her sponge-like brain knows and can regurgitate. I think though, that it was on one of those hard days, that my husband and I panic ordered this book.
I can’t say that this book was *super* helpful. It’s not really even a parenting book or advice book, per se. Rather, I would put it on the “humor” section of the bookshelf. It’s very funny and relatable, but it’s not the book I would go to when oh say, I need to know how to teach my child not to bite the cat. It’s a fun read and a quick read, but it’s kind of like reading a book about a hurricane when you are experiencing a hurricane. Like, cool….this book is describing my life right now, but what can I do to not die in this hurricane?
Anyway, lovely writing and very fun, but maybe not the advice book I needed at this time.
July 5, 2024
4.5 ⭐️ Not really a suggestion type of book for tips to deal with toddlers more of a funny perspective from moms dealing with the rollercoaster ride of life with a tiny terror. I laughed out loud several times. Good to know somethings other kids do too. 😆 The accuracy in her suggestion that anytime you make a plan months in advance or plan a trip somewhere your kid will most definitely get sick that day so go ahead and book a doc appointment for the next day too! 🎯 ☠️ 😂 so many points hit right on the mark!
May 30, 2015
Like her previous book The Sh!t No One Tells You: A Guide to Surviving Your Babies First Year (2013) Dais presents her own struggles with her toddlers as well as her MOFL (Moms on the Front Lines). This time she also brings two professionals , Katie Hurley and Gail Maire Poverman-Kave, both Licensed Clinical Social Workers.
I was laughing before I even got to the first chapter. The chapter titles, listed in the table of contents are spot on for anyone who has ever parented a toddler. Here are some of the very best chapter titles (and believe me, it was not easy narrowing down to just three).
Walking is Hard. Bruising is considerably less difficult.
Remember When You Judged Other Parents? Prepare to eat your words with a side of karma's a bitch.
Pictures are Deceiving. "Smile for the camera! We are happy, dammit!"
I highly recommend this book for those who are in these "precious" years with their child, on the cusp of these years, or maybe as a means of birth control for others. Readers will fall into two categories - Rolling on the floor laughing at the stories and remembering their own experiences or crying at the joys they have in their future. Either way all will enjoy this wonderful new book by Dais and her band of Merry Mothers.
I was laughing before I even got to the first chapter. The chapter titles, listed in the table of contents are spot on for anyone who has ever parented a toddler. Here are some of the very best chapter titles (and believe me, it was not easy narrowing down to just three).
Walking is Hard. Bruising is considerably less difficult.
Remember When You Judged Other Parents? Prepare to eat your words with a side of karma's a bitch.
Pictures are Deceiving. "Smile for the camera! We are happy, dammit!"
I highly recommend this book for those who are in these "precious" years with their child, on the cusp of these years, or maybe as a means of birth control for others. Readers will fall into two categories - Rolling on the floor laughing at the stories and remembering their own experiences or crying at the joys they have in their future. Either way all will enjoy this wonderful new book by Dais and her band of Merry Mothers.
July 27, 2018
Fun, relatable, and funny. This was a super fast read about all things toddler-hood!
Dawn Dais' book about newborns, (The Sh!t No One Tells You: A Guide to Surviving Your Baby's First Year), is one of my all time favorite parenting books, and this one on toddlers had all of the same qualities. The reason I rated the other one a 5 though (and not this one) is because I was reading it right in the midst of my son's newborn days and it made me feel less alone. It was a lifeline that I needed at that time. This time with the toddler book, I guess I didn't "need" it quite as much, but still found it enjoyable.
Basically, this book contains Dawn's musings on different topics pertaining to toddlers as well as some input and feedback from other toddler moms. She offers honesty, funny quips, and parenting tips. Lots of sarcasm, wit, and self-deprecating humor... all things which I enjoy! If you're looking for a parenting book that isn't too serious, and talks about both the ups AND downs, you'll enjoy her books!
Dawn Dais' book about newborns, (The Sh!t No One Tells You: A Guide to Surviving Your Baby's First Year), is one of my all time favorite parenting books, and this one on toddlers had all of the same qualities. The reason I rated the other one a 5 though (and not this one) is because I was reading it right in the midst of my son's newborn days and it made me feel less alone. It was a lifeline that I needed at that time. This time with the toddler book, I guess I didn't "need" it quite as much, but still found it enjoyable.
Basically, this book contains Dawn's musings on different topics pertaining to toddlers as well as some input and feedback from other toddler moms. She offers honesty, funny quips, and parenting tips. Lots of sarcasm, wit, and self-deprecating humor... all things which I enjoy! If you're looking for a parenting book that isn't too serious, and talks about both the ups AND downs, you'll enjoy her books!
June 11, 2015
Entertaining and interesting but not as laugh out loud funny as I was hoping it would be based on the description. The author writes of her experience parenting 2 toddlers and offers some advice and insight along the way.
My favorite chapters were the ones on discipline and on the "lean in" concept. In the discipline chapter Dais writes so honestly and candidly of toddlers' ability to push a parent to his or her breaking point. I also love that sue disagrees with women's ability to fully lean in to both work life and to raising children. By fully committing to one, the other is bound to suffer.
While I rolled my eyes at some of the author's anecdotes, I found others to be very relatable and touching. This book isn't quite a parenting manual or an overtly comedic work, but there are a few chuckles and helpful tips. At the very least, this book is a way for moms of toddlers to know that there are others out there who have gone through the potty training, the tantrums, and the dinner table negotiations and made it to the other side.
Digital ARC from Netgalley.
My favorite chapters were the ones on discipline and on the "lean in" concept. In the discipline chapter Dais writes so honestly and candidly of toddlers' ability to push a parent to his or her breaking point. I also love that sue disagrees with women's ability to fully lean in to both work life and to raising children. By fully committing to one, the other is bound to suffer.
While I rolled my eyes at some of the author's anecdotes, I found others to be very relatable and touching. This book isn't quite a parenting manual or an overtly comedic work, but there are a few chuckles and helpful tips. At the very least, this book is a way for moms of toddlers to know that there are others out there who have gone through the potty training, the tantrums, and the dinner table negotiations and made it to the other side.
Digital ARC from Netgalley.
August 18, 2015
It was refreshing to read a parenting book from an author that actually has a unique opinion and a point of view that is so like my own. This book was very funny! She really found a way to laugh at herself and made me remember that everything is just a phase. Eventually all "monkeys" turn into real human c children!
I loved that everyone who contributed to the book had so many different points of view. Every person and family is different! In "The Sh!t No one tells you about Toddlers" this was thoroughly represented.
Dawn Dais never makes you feel as if you are being judged. I have a 3 year old and a 5 year old and it felt like she really gets what I am going through. I love the phrase "Mommy's on the Frontlines." We are going to start using that phrase in my mom's group!
I loved that everyone who contributed to the book had so many different points of view. Every person and family is different! In "The Sh!t No one tells you about Toddlers" this was thoroughly represented.
Dawn Dais never makes you feel as if you are being judged. I have a 3 year old and a 5 year old and it felt like she really gets what I am going through. I love the phrase "Mommy's on the Frontlines." We are going to start using that phrase in my mom's group!
April 8, 2016
I am a mother of 2 toddlers and it truly is a challenging time if my life. The book was entertaining most of the time and I laughed on several occasions as I could relate other times some chapters I got a little frustrated with but only because I have a different mentality when it comes to parenting. sometimes I do feel like I'm on a battle field making sure I survive day by day, but I do like one part of the book where the author shares how it is has to do with our response to each situation. She had and made great points.there is definitely humor.
February 12, 2016
This book was so funny! The author really gets what it is like to parent toddlers (especially more than 1)! Sometimes I feel like someone gave my daughter a quota for how many times she needs to say "mom" in her life, but she was only sort of paying attention, so she is trying to hit the quota in a day. This is, as the author describes, like living with a "crackhead with ADD".
November 13, 2015
This one was just as funny as the last, though, I did think it was maybe a bit more negative. Toddlers are hard man. Like super hard. So it's understandable. Still liked it and found myself wondering if as her children age we'd get more. Here's hoping.
July 3, 2017
There's nothing really life-changing in this book, though I did get a few helpful tips from Dais and the many moms she interviewed. What I enjoyed was the humor and the stories that let me know that I'm not the only one who feels like a really crappy parent sometimes.
December 12, 2017
There wasn't that much mentioned here that is unexpected about momming a toddler, but there were some good tips (such as "mommy time-out," or putting the kid in time out just until you calm down enough to deal with your anger) and I really liked the sections with all the "moms on the front lines" discussing issues such as how to lean in without leaning out, making time to still talk to your partner, and things like when to start preschool - it was cool hearing everyone making different decisions and listing their rationale. It's a really good reminder that there isn't one right way to be a parent or have a family and that even between your different kids you may have to make different decisions since they are individual human beings.
I think the wine references were a bit excessive and the audiobook narrator was meh but otherwise there were useful bits here.
I think the wine references were a bit excessive and the audiobook narrator was meh but otherwise there were useful bits here.
March 23, 2020
Not revolutionary by any means, but fun and light-hearted - perfect for walks with Violet during the quarantine. The author tells a lot of stories and is candid about the joy and trials of raising toddlers. She often surveys other moms on the front lines to get a wider range of experiences - for example, the author is a lesbian but she polls other women who are Christians, older parents, younger parents, etc. This book convinced me that I'm probably not going out to eat or on vacation with my toddler in the near future ...
February 7, 2021
Starts off seeming like going to be super negative / snarky, and I set it down. But then the chapter titles called to me and I read it and it was lol funny at many parts. Didn't necessarily agree with all her parenting recommendations, but I don't think that was the point. She also comes across very subtly supporting attachment parenting which is cool bc she is just a realist about how it looks on her everyday life. So fun to read but not necessarily practical, more like 'im in the trenches here with you too.'
September 11, 2020
It was hilariously relatable and she drug the lean in movement which I thoroughly enjoyed because I have thought it was garbage long before motherhood. Would recommend to any mama in the trenches of toddlerhood.
September 24, 2017
Angry little monkey's are the best!
Grab a glass of wine and your since of humor because this dose of reality is the best! Cheers to you!
Grab a glass of wine and your since of humor because this dose of reality is the best! Cheers to you!
January 5, 2018
Overly pessimistic and opinionated IMHO, but there were some tidbits I took from it. Of course, I'm not fully into toddlerdom so could change my perspective later. :)
January 29, 2018
It made me laugh through every pages. Made my expectation very low for having a baby. Yet made me enjoy it the most.
March 19, 2018
Very funny and spot on. Great preview of the new few years to come. Enjoyed it a lot.
June 15, 2018
book is amusing and now after a month, I can totally relate!
January 7, 2020
Less pragmatic parenting advise and more hilariously relatable toddler tales, I thoroughly enjoyed laughing at shared pain of the joy of parenting.
January 29, 2020
I highly recommend this for anyone struggling through the toddler years. Tips are blunt, but helpful. Most of all, it is a reminder that you are not alone in this adventure of raising a small human.
April 18, 2020
I like every word, every page, every description. She is so funny and whimsical. As a mother of a toddler, I felt that I was not alone in the world. I highly recommend it.
June 26, 2020
Great book. Funny and intriguing.
November 5, 2021
I love hearing the stories and knowing you are not alone when your children act this way.
March 29, 2022
If you need laughter and perhaps tears during your morning commute.
February 25, 2023
I loved the one about pregnancy and the first year, so I had high hopes for this book. I enjoyed it, but didn’t find it as funny and relatable as I had hoped.
March 27, 2023
Laugh out loud funny, but felt short on practicable solutions.
January 15, 2024
The first couple lines from each chapter were the best and all too real. Aside from that, not much really stood out.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews