When I tell people that I have two kids under two and give them their specific ages, one of two things happens: 1. They grimace and say something along the lines of, “YIKES. You must be tired.” or “You must really have your hands full!” or 2. They compare my situation to that of parents of twins.
Let me just say RIGHT NOW, that I have never been a parent of twins and I, under no circumstances, think that that shit is easy, ya’ll. But I can’t speak to that. Because MY kids, though just about the same size, are not twins. They are on VERY different pages developmentally and are in VERY different stages of personality development. And, in some ways, I think my life might be a little easier if I had had twins instead of accidentally getting pregnant TWICE in a little over a year. I understand that I would have been twice the size I was during my pregnancies. And I understand that I would have had the same newborn issues TIMES TWO. I know. I know! But when I was pregnant with Baby O, L wasn’t walking yet. So, with my bad back and my giant pregnant belly, I was carrying this squirmy ball of energy around with me everywhere. She was frustrated because she did not yet have the autonomy that she wanted so badly, and I was losing my sanity because…PREGNANCY. (Ouch.)
Then I had Baby O. And L started walking thirteen days later. And I had a newborn and a new walker (read: drunk zombie, because that, in my opinion, is what babies look like when they start walking) who was running into crap and banging her head on things and falling down every 30 seconds or so. (I’m still trying to get her to SIT DOWN.) And, while I realize that having TWO doing all of that at the same time would have been really challenging, I think I might have preferred two drunk zombies over one drunk zombie and a meatloaf. Because chasing L around the house and trying to pick her up off the floor after a fall while trying to nurse a newborn was a little ridiculous.
Now, we’re in a pretty crazy place. We are, with Baby O, right where we were a year ago with L. He wants to be mobile. He wants to be held and not be held at the same time. Because being held means he can’t move around but not being held means he can’t move around. So…you can understand his dilemma. But also, I now have L who is independent but entering the Terrible Twos and throwing tantrums and climbing things and locking herself in rooms that she shouldn’t be in in the first place and eating everything or refusing to eat at all. (And unraveling the toilet paper, and trying to flush shoes down the toilet and jumping off of the couch and…I could go on…) So, I’m still chasing. And holding a baby (who now weighs approximately as much as my car…) and trying to keep everyone happy at each of their developmental levels, all while cleaning and cooking and trying to remember to eat a sandwich every once in a while.
I keep thinking about how much time I wish away just wishing that Baby O would hurry up and learn to walk. Because, even though I know it is going to be a whole new drunk zombie experience, at least I will just be chasing and not so much carrying and picking up and all that stuff. I don’t want to wish it away. But my back is pretty much broken at this point, you guys. BROKEN.
So, yeah, sometimes, I think it may have been easier if they were at least in the same place so there wasn’t so much chaos. But I keep holding onto the hope that after the Terrible Twos are over for everyone, things will calm a bit and the kids will entertain each other.
I mean, that’s gonna happen. Right?
Broken Condoms 
Lol maybe you should change your blog name from broken condoms to broken backs.
Well…it would be fitting. However…we all know why I started this blog in the first place…lol
Too true. Haha
It gets better. Kinda. There are all new issues to contend with when they are both walking. Like when they both run off in opposite directions…
Yeah. I can totally see how that could be an issue. You know, because splitting myself in half is not an option. But right now I just FEEL like I am splitting myself in half without the added convenience of being able to be in two places at once!
Ha! I’m totally with you. So my blog tagline? Four kids in three years. Because I DID have twins… when my oldest was 17 months. Then my surprise came 19 months later. Voila! The good news, in about five minutes you will feel like your kids are the same age. Which is actually a good thing. I sign them up for the same soccer (sort of), the same swim class (sort of), we do the same play dates and so on. Yay! The bad news? You will be so sad you wished away any of the baby stuff. Or at least, I was. Long days, short years, as they say.
Breathe deeply, take a break (seriously), know you are not alone and keep putting it out there so that you can hear us all say, YOU GO GIRL! Because it sounds like that messy life you’re living is pretty great. (Except the back thing. That sucks! I used to drive to really far away playgrounds and put the seater heater on to soothe the back when the sciatica acted up. It ain’t much, but it helps.)
You are my hero. I can’t even wrap my head around that much crazy! I totally do already feel so bad about wishing some of this away but sometimes, as I’m sure you know, it is so hard not to just fantasize about reading books or sleeping in. Or…you know…just sleeping in general. It is definitely the best kind of messy, that’s for sure. Sometimes I am just amazed that I’m still standing. No one could have told me three years ago that I would be here! Thanks for the words of encouragement!!!!
Oh, I told you: the first year, suckage. But soon, I promise, SOON, they will start to entertain each other, love each other, want to be around each other. It will be awesome.
I’m so ready! SO READY for that!!! Just think about how much money I will save without having to buy so much wine!
My sister had her children back to back in her late 30’s ! More power to the both of you, mine are 7 years apart lol
I was 32 when I had my first one and 13 months later, my second! I can’t imagine if it happened any later than it did! They’re making me feel ancient!!! How was seven years apart for you? I imagine that would also have some challenges!
I will be 40 this July I feel older with a 12 year old and a 5 year old girl . They go at it at times because he’s a pesky older brother and she’s a bratty lil sister but it’s not so bad , I will soon have a built in teenaged babysitter !
I feel like kids definitely age ya! But I’m wondering if, when L is 18 and I’m 50, will I start feeling young again? Like, will all of this crazy be magically gone? Or will it be replaced with a new crazy that makes me feel 90?
Lol not sure but write about it when the time comes.
lol hopefully not…
Yeah. You’ll. You know. They move out eventually. 🙂
No but really I do think it gets easier as it goes along. Just doesn’t feel like it sometimes as our patience with the latest thing is constantly wearing thinner and thinner.