I feel like a really bad mum this week. I feel like running away and I shouted at my beautiful babies.
Dts are 6 and sometimes I feel resentful there are 2 at once. My parents didn't help with childcare when they were little so it meant stepping out of the workforce.
Additionally, lockdown happened which has increased resentfulness - with everyone really. I felt abandoned and I can't get past this feeling - although I can rationalise it.
I see friends and family with one baby and I'm jealous. It doesn't impact their lives as much.
People don't understand how hard it is and especially now that women have to work because of cost of living.
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Multiple births
Restful :(
spearmintdreams · 12/04/2024 08:46
FoodAnxiety · 13/04/2024 08:34
I think you're being angry at the wrong thing here. Your parents aren't obligated to help you. Sure, it would have been nice if they had, but many GPS don't want to take on regular childcare.
You had 7 months or so to discuss childcare with your h and decide what would happen when you knew you were having twins - were you both happy with this?
I suggest you join TAMBA - they provide great support.
You might also find counselling helpful.
Re rejoining the workforce, perhaps you feel your family is complete now? If so, at least you got all the early years over in one go!
FoodAnxiety · 13/04/2024 08:34
I think you're being angry at the wrong thing here. Your parents aren't obligated to help you. Sure, it would have been nice if they had, but many GPS don't want to take on regular childcare.
You had 7 months or so to discuss childcare with your h and decide what would happen when you knew you were having twins - were you both happy with this?
I suggest you join TAMBA - they provide great support.
You might also find counselling helpful.
Re rejoining the workforce, perhaps you feel your family is complete now? If so, at least you got all the early years over in one go!
Headingforburnout · 13/04/2024 08:32
Unless you would have only ever had one child the cost of twins isn’t that much worse. Yes it feels worse when they’re little but it all evens out and you get it out of the way and they’re in school “quicker” than if one is two years younger. I do get that lockdown with two year old twins would be hellish though, although not necessarily any worse than a newborn and a two year old or a two and four year old.
spearmintdreams · 12/04/2024 08:46
I feel like a really bad mum this week. I feel like running away and I shouted at my beautiful babies.
Dts are 6 and sometimes I feel resentful there are 2 at once. My parents didn't help with childcare when they were little so it meant stepping out of the workforce.
Additionally, lockdown happened which has increased resentfulness - with everyone really. I felt abandoned and I can't get past this feeling - although I can rationalise it.
I see friends and family with one baby and I'm jealous. It doesn't impact their lives as much.
People don't understand how hard it is and especially now that women have to work because of cost of living.
anicecuppateaa · 13/04/2024 14:42
@Headingforburnout not true. 2 car seats, 2 cots, 2 high chairs, a double buggy etc, 2 lots of clothes, shoes. People without twins do hand me downs.
most people also don’t just have the spare cash to fund 2 x nursery places at the same time.
WillYouPutYourCoatOn · 13/04/2024 14:50
Quite.
People without twins but want to tell people with them how it's no different to a two year old and a four year old (usually because it's what they have, and they like to feel superior because they can manage their far easier situation) are so unbelievably clueless.
anicecuppateaa · 13/04/2024 14:42
@Headingforburnout not true. 2 car seats, 2 cots, 2 high chairs, a double buggy etc, 2 lots of clothes, shoes. People without twins do hand me downs.
most people also don’t just have the spare cash to fund 2 x nursery places at the same time.
Donimo · 13/04/2024 19:16
So true... it drives me insane how people compare having 2 children under 2 to having twins. With 2 children you don't go through all the same stages at the same time. You don't have 2 x newborns or 2 x teething babies or 2 x sleep regressions or 2 x toddlers whom run in opposite directions etc etc.
Also don't have the same expenses at the same time. Double of everything at the same time. They also miss out due to this. My eldest daughter did swimming lessons, lots of baby groups etc etc. I can't afford to pay for double of all of these so the twins don't do it
WillYouPutYourCoatOn · 13/04/2024 14:50
Quite.
People without twins but want to tell people with them how it's no different to a two year old and a four year old (usually because it's what they have, and they like to feel superior because they can manage their far easier situation) are so unbelievably clueless.
anicecuppateaa · 13/04/2024 14:42
@Headingforburnout not true. 2 car seats, 2 cots, 2 high chairs, a double buggy etc, 2 lots of clothes, shoes. People without twins do hand me downs.
most people also don’t just have the spare cash to fund 2 x nursery places at the same time.
WillYouPutYourCoatOn · 13/04/2024 14:11
How old are your twins?
Headingforburnout · 13/04/2024 08:32
Unless you would have only ever had one child the cost of twins isn’t that much worse. Yes it feels worse when they’re little but it all evens out and you get it out of the way and they’re in school “quicker” than if one is two years younger. I do get that lockdown with two year old twins would be hellish though, although not necessarily any worse than a newborn and a two year old or a two and four year old.
anicecuppateaa · 13/04/2024 14:42
@Headingforburnout not true. 2 car seats, 2 cots, 2 high chairs, a double buggy etc, 2 lots of clothes, shoes. People without twins do hand me downs.
most people also don’t just have the spare cash to fund 2 x nursery places at the same time.
WillYouPutYourCoatOn · 13/04/2024 20:05
Precisely this. It's even down to the logistics of every tiny thing. Mine don't have swimming lessons because it's one adult: one child ratio and I can't be the adult in the water simultaneously for both of them.
I remember when I put DTwins in reins, and eldest DS was cringing "omg mum, you look like you're walking two dogs,"..."thanks for that DS, it's to stop them both running off" ..."can't you even run fast enough not to have them on a lead?".... "Why yes, DS, except it doesn't matter how fast I am, I can not run in two directions at the same time."
Is your baby waking you every three hours? While your two year old sleeps through? Super. My babies wake up every 3 hours too, but not on the same schedule. So the one that wakes at 1am, that's fed, and changed and back down, settled for 1.30am, I then hopefully fall asleep by 1.45am and boom, 45 minutes later 2.30am, here's twin 2, fed changed and asleep by 3. Me by 3.15....oh, hello twin 1 at 4am.
My particular favourite is 2x vaccinations. That's a both of you take the day off work job.
The only saving grace to the bunch with their "2 under 2" nonsense, is that until you experience it, the extra stuff we have to do/stuff we can't even attempt, isn't instantly obvious, so whilst they're clueless, it's not intentional. Some people genuinely don't process any further than, "twins, so that's basically just a double buggy instead then"
Donimo · 13/04/2024 19:16
So true... it drives me insane how people compare having 2 children under 2 to having twins. With 2 children you don't go through all the same stages at the same time. You don't have 2 x newborns or 2 x teething babies or 2 x sleep regressions or 2 x toddlers whom run in opposite directions etc etc.
Also don't have the same expenses at the same time. Double of everything at the same time. They also miss out due to this. My eldest daughter did swimming lessons, lots of baby groups etc etc. I can't afford to pay for double of all of these so the twins don't do it
WillYouPutYourCoatOn · 13/04/2024 14:50
Quite.
People without twins but want to tell people with them how it's no different to a two year old and a four year old (usually because it's what they have, and they like to feel superior because they can manage their far easier situation) are so unbelievably clueless.
anicecuppateaa · 13/04/2024 14:42
@Headingforburnout not true. 2 car seats, 2 cots, 2 high chairs, a double buggy etc, 2 lots of clothes, shoes. People without twins do hand me downs.
most people also don’t just have the spare cash to fund 2 x nursery places at the same time.
Headingforburnout · 14/04/2024 08:32
I do get that but small age gaps also means two cots you can’t just turf a one year old out of the cot when the next baby comes along.
anicecuppateaa · 13/04/2024 14:42
@Headingforburnout not true. 2 car seats, 2 cots, 2 high chairs, a double buggy etc, 2 lots of clothes, shoes. People without twins do hand me downs.
most people also don’t just have the spare cash to fund 2 x nursery places at the same time.
Deepdarkforest · 14/04/2024 08:44
The obvious thing you’ve missed is choice.
You choose a small age gap, even if unplanned.
You don’t choose twins.
And I don’t even have twins! But this thread had me quite shocked at the lack of support. It’s obvious twins are really tough going especially without any help.
Headingforburnout · 14/04/2024 08:32
I do get that but small age gaps also means two cots you can’t just turf a one year old out of the cot when the next baby comes along.
anicecuppateaa · 13/04/2024 14:42
@Headingforburnout not true. 2 car seats, 2 cots, 2 high chairs, a double buggy etc, 2 lots of clothes, shoes. People without twins do hand me downs.
most people also don’t just have the spare cash to fund 2 x nursery places at the same time.
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