I’m not going to lie. Having two babies under the age of two is tough – physically, emotionally and logistically. But, whatever scare stories anyone tells you, read my lips: It does get easier.
DaddyM is having his first work trip away since April and boy what a difference 6 months makes! He is in the Middle East all week and so far, I’m coping just fine (although I don’t want to jinx it as he’s only been gone 36 hours…) .
Rewind the clock back 6 months I can remember balling my eyes out on the kitchen floor, worn down and sobbing that I couldn’t cope. DaddyM was in Miami for a whole week and I was still breastfeeding 8 month old MiniM#2, while 27.5 month old MiniM#1 was going through a ‘difficult phase’ still adjusting to the presence of a younger sister, coupled with some pretty spectacular two-year old temper issues. I was having to do everything for both of them, pretty much at the same time. MiniM#1 wasn’t at nursery yet and I was running my own business from home during her naptimes and in the evenings.
At a family gathering in June, DaddyM and I met a couple with 2 children of similar age gap, who were a few years older than ours. They told us, almost boastfully ‘oh it gets much harder as they get older. They argue all the time and we don’t get a minute’s peace.’ We looked at each other and chose to ignore their unhelpful victimization. Their two were off playing, while the couple in question was tucking into their lunch, knocking back the wine and chatting. We, on the other hand, were taking it in turns to hold on to MiniM#2 for dear life to stop her wriggling off onto the concrete patio in the baking sun, while the other tried to get MiniM#1 to eat and occasionally shove something into our own mouths.
And it turns out we were right to ignore the scaremongering. Today, 6 months on from when DaddyM last travelled, I’m finding it’s so much easier looking after a 14 month old and a 27.5 month old on my own. MiniM#2 is now at nursery 3 mornings a week and is much more independent. She toddles around the house, entertaining herself with books and toys and can even shovel food into her own mouth. And MiniM#1 has matured so much it’s almost like she’s a different child. Instead of refusing to go up/ down the stairs to nursery, she will carry both her and her sister’s coat, or both rucksacks. At home, she will entertain her MiniM#2 by reading her stories or showing her toys or singing to her. She will do as she is told 80% of the time. And if she doesn’t I can sometimes even get her to comply without raising my voice.
I’m not going to pretend. It still has its tricky moments. I used to be sporty, but I currently have a back injury from coughing too violently during a recent chest infection (the doctor asked me if I was heavy smoker!). And I’m awaiting a knee operation for a torn meniscus, meaning I cannot bend my leg to lift objects or wriggly little people, which doesn’t exactly help the back…
But at least things are tricky because of my own decrepit state, rather than my unruly offspring. I love it when the three of us have fun playing together and laughing. I look forward to nursery pick-up so I can be with my girls again. And when DaddyM is away, it means I get them all to myself!
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Calamitous Mummy 