How do I answer this tactfully? Well, I have survived getting two children past this stage, but I am now in the thick of it with the third (and final!) child. It is absolutely the most wonderful and exhausting phase of childhood imaginable.There are days when I wonder why we didn't get my husband in for his "procedure" just a little sooner (did I mention that we call our toddler "Jackcident"?), but in reality I wouldn't trade this time for all the money in the world. All too soon the tantrums and insanity will pass, but so too will the snuggling, the constant curiousity, the sponge learning, and the pure enjoyment of this thing we call life.

So, to thorougly answer this question, let's start with the cons:
* They're exhausting! Toddlers are incredibly energetic, until they hit the wall, and then they are unbearable
* Toddlers are often still being potty trained, and therefore are prone to odors at inopportune moments
* Most toddlers are reasoning-challenged
* You still need to interrupt your day for nap time, and if you don't look out world!!!
* A toddler's thought process is generally, "I want such & such", the vocalization is typically, "AAAHHHHH!!!" This is difficult to distinguish from the toddler's vocalization of "I don't want such & such" or "such & such is making me uncomfortable or unhappy."
* Mealtime - it's not pretty.
* Toddlers plus grabby hands plus fur equals unhappy pets.

And now for the Pros:
* They are still very cuddly when they are willing to sit still.
* Everything that you show them is new and totally amazing. Therefore it's easy to be their hero!
* Everything they do is new and is totally amazing to you! Even when it's not your first.
* They have pinchable cheeks.
* They have few inhibitions.
* Toddlers are still very malleable - while they have opinions (very loud ones), they still think you're smarter than they are. I can't say the same for my grade-schooler.
* They cannot outrun you yet.
* They haven't started asking for a cell phone yet.
* And did I mention they're cute?!

So, after taking stock, I'd say the answer is yes. The toddler years are both terrible and terrific!