Mothers of twins....... am I mad?

[MarsLady]

The DTs have just gotten a place at Tumbletots. I'm going on my own (don't have, can't afford help!).

So am I mad? Will it be too much work? DT1 can and does climb for England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. DT2 is just getting into climbing.

Will it encourage their daredevil antics or just cause me a complete nervous breakdown?

Or is it just that I'm lazy and should just get on with it?

Must say I stood in TT with DS1 and thought to myself "Why am I teaching my child to climb a ladder?"

Then I put my back out and stopped going

i dont know what tumble tots is but am gathering its a big soft play area - ball pools and ropes and soft landings and such?

i would do it as long as there was a coffee area and then i would employ that technique on the other thread - oh how did giraffski put it ..cant remember but it adds up to ignoring them unless someone starts crying loudly.

sadly I think TT is one of those hands on things.

Never did it with the others. Am spoiling the DTs cos they are my last!

Custy.... why don't you take them for me?

Brave MarsLady! I took mine - on my own - a few times when they were about 18mths to a minigym (is that what TumbleTots is?)

You were supposed to move around to a different activity when told having spent about ten minutes on each thing - it was rather too structured and disciplined for the agegroup I felt. Also, you have to help the child do the activity and not leave them. They were quite strict about this, but said they'd help me.

My dt's immediatly shot off in different directions. Then wouldn't leave the trampolines alone cos they were the most interesting things there. Helping them both climb ladders and beams was difficult because the help promised was not consistent. Then an old moo snippily said to me that I was not to leave a child unattended on an activity, but I was helping the other one and no-one else was helping me at all. I went a couple of times but it added more stress to my life at a point that I really didn't need it tbh!

I would say from their pov that they liked it. I think now they are older, they would absolutely love it and could do it without my help quite easily. I have considered trying again(they're nearly 4 now). I would have kept it up had the minigym offered consistent help to me - the impression I got was I was being a bit of a burden on them. Hopefully Tumbletots will offer you better help. Maybe it's a more relaxed setup than the thing I went to.

As for encouraging daredevil antics - well mine hardly went to the minigym but they've had no problem encouraging each other in their own daredevil deeds over the years. If you could see the lines of worry etched on my face...

I'd say give it a go, they will probably have a great time; for mum - relaxing it ain't!

I always came out of Tumble Tots feeling as if I'd done a full workout myself, let alone dd having had one! Before they go into the "walking to 2" class it's unstructured, but once they're walking you need to take the children round the circuits. There's a member of staff at each station to help but you'll do most of the donkey work yourself (and all of the retrieving when they run away).

That said, Tumble Tots was really good for dd's confidence and development, and I'd highly recommend it ... you're very brave doing it with twins though

Oh gosh! Tinygang.... you have just articulated my worst fears. Will give it a go on Wednesday. If I don't post...... you'll know I was done for lmao.

Off out now. Am so lazy, can't stand!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lol ML! I feel I've put you off now.

Please post again and tell us how you get on. I hope it goes well. Little twins can be like trying to control a basket of puppies

god no Marslady! am all for an easy life - i would opt for a disused tennis court throw a ball and watch them run to the other side ofr it - whilst i opened my flask ( fag in gob) and had my necessary coffee.

then i would brag to all i know that they were having tennis lessons.

Message withdrawn

lol custy.

II used to take DD to a pre school gymnastics clas which I suppose is similar to tumble tots.

There was always parents who had someone elses child to look after too or a baby crawling about or screaming in pram. The other parents would always help to grab strays and pick up crawling babies that were getting to close. My MIL used to come sometimes I swear it was just so she could play with the babies .
The leaders should help too. It was unstructured up to a certain age and then you were encourage to move around. DD has now got her first BAGA badge age 5.

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.... quite like custy's alternative.... tennis lessons.... excellent! Will try it on Wednesday and then post if I survive it!

Good luck hon. I think the main danger is that it will be too structured for you to guide both at once through the hoops or whatever they are. If it's slightly more flexible I bet you'll have a great time. Good luck. Hope you and the twins have loads of fun.

thought about what you all said, and decided to wait a few terms (well until the DTs pretend to listen to me).

Apparently they don't do trial lessons, but she made an exception for me. She's promised to fit me in when I'm ready to start them.

Thanks ladies. I wasn't sure that I wanted to commit myself to more madness.