SURVIVOR STORY: How My Toddler Changed My Life!

convosIn our latest Survivor story the Internet’s most famous father-of-two Matthew Clarke tells us how parenthood turned him into a You Tube sensation!

The 34-year-old creator of Convos With My 2-Year-Old was inspired to turn his hilarious conversations with his toddler into a mini-series with a twist – they are re-enacted by himself and a fully-grown man….

What was early fatherhood like for you?  

I loved it. I was pretty smitten right away. I found myself pretty aware early on how fleeting it all is, so I tried to appreciate it as much as I could. I was moderately successful.

Has fatherhood changed you?

I think so. It’s hard for me to say exactly how. I’d like to say it’s made me more patient, but most days I feel the opposite is true. I think it’s a bunch of little things. I think it’s made me more pragmatic. Also, I’m way more emotional now. I cry at the lamest things. And I drink more now. Ha!

How did you cope with the inevitable lack of sleep that comes with having babies? Are your kids ‘good sleepers’?

Define “Good.” 😉 They certainly have had their ups and downs. Coco’s (4) a great sleeper now. Shepherd’s (1) alright. We haven’t jumped out the window yet so that’s promising. He’ll get there. I don’t know a lot of 28-year-olds who wake up regularly screaming at the ceiling. So I’m not that worried. It’s funny, early on Coco had one really awesome night of sleep, like slept the whole night through. And I thought, “Well, we figured that out!” The next night was a mess, obviously. This has informed my parenting more than anything else. Nothing lasts.

So, what is bedtime like in your house?

See here!

What would you say has been the hardest part of parenthood so far?

That’s a difficult question. Sacrifices abound, but ultimately they’re worthwhile. When they’re sick, that is definitely hard. But I think the personal challenge it all presents is the hardest. Someone told me once that, “Having kids is hard because the only way to change them is to change yourself.” I think that’s profoundly true, and ultimately that’s the hardest part.

convos_clarke-web

Matthew, Leila, Coco, Shepherd and (Coco II) David Milchard

How and when did the idea for Convos With My Two-Year-Old come about?  

Leila, my wife, was working so I took on the stay-at-home dad role. I was spending all this time with Coco, and these conversations and interactions kept happening. They just seemed crazy to me in any other context. It just came out of that.

Why do you think it is so popular?

Not entirely sure, really. Hopefully, because it’s funny! But I think people really relate to it. They see themselves in the characters and situations.

What is the funniest thing your kids have said lately?

See here!

How do your children react to the Convos films?

They’re fans. That’s strange to say, but they get a kick out of them. As of late, Coco has been more vocal with ideas when we’re shooting, so I think she really enjoys seeing some of her ideas on the screen.

What one piece of advice would you give to dads about dealing with toddlers?

Visualise them as grown men. It’s disarming.

What does the future hold for Convos With My Two-Year-Old?

I’m not 100% sure, honestly. The entire show has been a one day at a time kind of thing. As Coco ages and situations change, the inspiration keeps shifting and changing in unexpected ways. So I’m actually really excited to see what happens next. We have such an awesome fan base. They’re incredibly supportive. And it’s very exciting to know they’re out there, waiting for the next thing.

Check out more of the brilliantly funny Convos With My Two-Year-Old on You Tube or follow Matthew on Facebook for all the latest updates!

Has parenthood inspired you to achieve something great?  Whether you have overcome an illness, set up a business, fulfilled ambitions or survived a sleep thief against the odds, then I would love to hear your story!  Please get in touch on  [email protected] or contact me on Facebook.

To read more from parents who ROCK visit the Survivors page…

2 thoughts on “SURVIVOR STORY: How My Toddler Changed My Life!

  1. I LOVE LOVE LOVE these. My hubs and I probably quote the pants episode on a daily basis, usually in public, usually very loudly. Unrelated: We don’t have any friends, and I’m SUPER aware of tags.

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