Do toddlers get embarrassed?

The context for this question will become clear.  Bear with me.  My sister and I were having a conversation today about how so much parenting time is taken up with thinking that when a milestone is met life will be simple again.

Whether it's sleeping through, weaning, crawling, walking, teething, able to play for more than 30 seconds without needing you, able to comprehend danger (well at least a little bit).  The list is endless.  For me right now I am here:

When the toddler is able to understand the concept of other people's needs.  Maybe that's empathy, but whatever label it has, she doesn't get it yet.  At the moment she's learning what her actions do to others, but emphasis on learning, she's certainly not there yet (is anyone ever ?).

I think, to get all Freudian about it, it's called the Super-Ego.  The bit of our subconscious that controls the ego.  It's the bit that stops us behaving like psychopaths who have no control over their desires.  So when a toddler throws themselves on the floor in Sainsbury's because they can't pour the can of baked beans over themselves they have no concept of embarrassment.   Actually my best friend reckons toddlers are basically psychopaths, simply because of that fact.  They have no limiting inner voice that stops them behaving REALLY badly.  Because of course to them it's not BAD, it's just life, and it's just that they want it (whatever it may be) RIGHT NOW.

In fact I'll revise this.  Maybe the stage I'm waiting for is the emotion of embarrassment.  With that maybe she wouldn't take all her clothes off in public, or throw things around so much.  Who knows.  I love her the way she is.

And with the baby, actually aside from the bloody, goddamn teeth which I wish would just get on with it and be over already, she's perfect.  But the poor little thing does not like her teeth coming through.   They really bother her.

So you see if it's not one phase, it's the next and before I know it I'll be complaining about my surly teenagers who aren't remotely interested in their Mum, so I'll be grateful for the huge need they both have of me now.

What 'phase' do you want to reach? Or maybe you're all just wonderfully relaxed parents who enjoy and savour every moment.  God I sound awful don't I?  Of course I enjoy and savour it all, but sometimes I just wish it'd get a teensy bit easier...