In a minute!

[GillL]

I feel terrible constantly saying this to my 2 year old and I feel like I never spend any time with her. I've got a 12 week old and a never ending stream of washing and washing up. By the time dd's in bed all I feel like doing is going to bed myself. I'm not really looking for a solution - I just wanted somewhere to vent my guilt.

Having two is soo much harder than I imagined. Mine are 2.9 and 18mnths. I remember in a hazy sort of way the way I struggled to get through each day. Is there any time you could spend with DC1 when DC2 is asleep? Perhaps doing more grown up persuits - painting, play doh etc. I think parenting is just so guilt ridden, especially when you have to split your time between two.

BTW It def. gets better as they get older and you get more used to managing two.

It does get easier

Although I found drawing on the fireplace on Saturday - when I asked DD why she had done it when she knows we draw on paper... She said she asked daddy for paper.

Daddy denied it.

She says Daddy said "In a minute"

I believe DD!

LOL! Bonfire - can't say much to that can you!

Oh dear, Gill. It doesn't get better by the time they're 2.5 and 9m if my now nail-varnish ruined carpet is anything to go by . You're doing fine!

Lol FlameFromBonfire!

Thanks all. I know I'm just going to have to leave the housework til the evening and have less time with dh. I'm sure dd will behave much better if I spend more time with her. She's always asking me to play with her.

I know what you mean about the washing. I remember my sister being scatihing towards me when I told her how often I run my washing machine - she objected on environmental grounds. They're only tiny how can their clothes create so many loads? She's now got 2 under 18 months and she's had to eat her words.

This sounds a bit naff, but my DS 1 used to help me match the coloured socks and sort undies (clean) in who's who piles etc. Job might have taken longer, but it got done, was more fun and I felt less guilty because at least I was with him and he was counting and learning colours etc...

I was going to suggest something similar to perpetualworrier: can DD help you a bit (make it fun, although it's bound to take longer) - do you need to be the one who puts the clothes in the washing machine, clears table etc?

(I find DD (18m) would try to do things anyway even if I didn't include her, so letting her help if a form of damage limitation -- and DS gets more nappy changes rather than less while DD is in charge.)

Also, I found playdoh, drawing, tickling etc works just as well for DD while I have a baby in one arm (at feeding time usually).

You can always tell DC2 to wait a minute as well so that DD doesn't think she's the only one hanging about. (Not that DC2 will understand, I presume...) (and not that I don't still feel guilty)

Dd seemed to enjoy helping me sort the washing last night so I'll carry on with that.