If your kids were 2 years old again, what would you do

[Namechangedmama]

Just that really.

What would you do differently?
How would you spend your days instead?
What would you do exactly the same?

Probably the same
I spent a lot of time with her and went out and about.

Take more videos. I didn't take enough and they change so fast.

I would have found a way to not need to go back to work until she was at school. It goes by so quickly and I missed out on a lot.

I wouldn’t have bought the Baby Shark album (supermarket bargain). DD loved it and for a long time it was all she wanted to listen to. It drove me mad!

I would have played with DD more and been more creative, like our brilliant childminder. I could have got plenty of ideas online.

I wouldn't change anything. Might have left their Dad sooner so he couldn't pretend to be Dad of the year when they were older and easier to manage! But at 2 I loved their crazy energy, funny little ways, sleepy bed heads and chatting whilst holding their dodee in between their teeth. I'm thankful for every moment that I didn't co parent even though it was hard sometimes. Sorry, some other issues may have come up here!!

There is a really happily married couple living across the road from me. They have two little girls who are preschool age. I noticed that each parent goes to 2 gym classes a week in the early evening. By 9 pm all the lights in the house are off. Both parents always seem to have tons of energy and I think that's because of the gym and going to bed so early.

So this is what I would do if I had my time again!

Launch myself into the sun.

I am very glad I'll never have to do 2 again.

Fully agree with monstermama, the nearest cliff would look appealing.

Nothing! I had a part time job as I was young and a waitress whilst studying at uni. I finished work by midday and barley had to be at lectures so I felt that I had a good balance between being there and finding myself again.

Actually I would probably make more local mum friends.

This!
I tend not to worry about things I could have done differently. I did the best I could with the resources and knowledge I had at the time.
I now have two well rounded teenagers, they are polite, mostly happy (youngest hates school) and time will tell how they feel about my parenting 🙈

Different with my eldest two. It was over twenty years ago I was late teens and learning on the job. I did (rarely) smack which I'm now horrified at. My parenting was do as I say because I said so.

My third got a very different version as I was older and more experienced.

Enjoy it more and stress less. I'd go back in a heartbeat

I loved that time. If I could go back, I'd try to worry less. I worried so much about things that turned out perfectly fine.

If I could go back I would only work part time as I went back very quickly and missed out on a lot of my son’s early development. I’d also try to stop worrying about everything.

Stayed home with them rather than going out to work every hour available and still having to claim income support. We probably wouldn't have been any worse off and I think they needed me.

Enjoy it as much as I did all over again, it was the best stage! I did honestly love it, would go back in a heartbeat. But all three of mine were easy toddlers, happy go lucky little chaps.

DD was 2 the week before lockdown in 2020 so with a mix of furlough and then a work contract ending I actually had a whole year at home with her.

Which in a way was great as I wouldn't have otherwise had the chance to have so much time with her, and then (obviously!) a lockdown nightmare in others.

But we all survived and I do look back and miss that time together, they're so funny at that age!

When DC1 was 2yo I was off on ML for a year with DC2. So we had a wonderful time.

I went down to PT with DC2 (and have stayed at PT as we have DC3, who is disabled)

I have been very fortunate to be around quite a bit when they were weeny and also as they are getting older.

I guess I'd worry less (especially with my disabled child. Her diagnosis was horrible and life changing but she is making her own way and living her best life)

I would make a real effort with food. I'm a boring eater and my kids eat limited diets. I wish I'd tried harder.

I’d love to go back and do it again. All the time in the garden, doing crafts, baking, making messes, discovering the world, reading stories, and lots and lots of cuddles.

But I’d move house to be closer to my dm.

I would choose not to work and would stay at home and look after them. I would move house to the area of good schools and not between us work 90-100 hours a week to pay for private eduction.

Parenting wise I don't think I would change much. I perhaps would have got the girls more into sports.

I would have taken more photos of me and my then best friend. She died in October 23 and I realised how few photos of the 2 of us I have. She is such a close part of those early parenting years.

Yes I'd have taken more photos with me in them with the kids.

I would do what I did.

Don't sweat the small stuff
Put fun and play over housework
Take time over meals, enjoy the fruit plate together
Don't get cross over muddy clothes, sofas

Hide the marker pens