Surviving 2 under 2! A year in the life of me!!

[Ju1es22]

We've made it through a year with 2 under 2, my youngest being one on Saturday and eldest just turned 2.

I absolutely adore them but some days I could've shut the door sit on my porch and cry lol! Makes me laugh now looking back!

My first 3 months were amazing my little boy slept most the day, so I got much needed one of one time with my daughter! But my boy fed through out the night and I was a walking zombie!

Maybe I'm a bad mum for admitting I wish I'd been more careful not to fall pregnant again too soon! I was breast feeding my daughter and thought naively my af hadn't returned so I couldn't get pregnant, how wrong was I lol!

I have some days where I feel like I shout all day and everything seems an endless battle with toddler tantrums galore! Then I feel awful! But the days are getting fewer and I'm feeling like I'm now coping:)

I've finally managed to get our routine cracked. They both nap for atleast an hour after lunch which is heaven for me!!

Thought I'd just share would love to here if anyone else has survived after such a small age gap:)

I've just posted on another thread that I had 2 under 2 at one point - there's a 17 month gap between mine - and the 1st year, especially the 1st 6 months, was the hardest and its only relatively recently that I've been actually enjoying most of it. Some days are still a nightmare - like today after a crap night's sleep - but we muddle through and it's nowhere near as fraught as it used to be.

Mine are 3.6 and 2.1 now and play (and argue) together fabulously. They have a great bond and it's lovely watching them together (not so much when they're doing that tug-of-war thing with some toy) and holding hands. Also, being so close in age, they're interested in the same things so finding something to entertain them both is easy.
I can't wait for them to grow up a bit more though and get less needy...

It's so nice to hear it's not just me who struggles some days! The mums round make out they're super mums and never shout:)

My two are starting to play together, but don't like sharing. My dd is 2.2 and lb is 1 Saturday and it's getting far easier now! Don't know I've got through it but I'm proud I have lol!

Gosh that must be hard one stroppy toddlers hard to deal with let alone two lol! She's just turned veggie too which is fun. Did your 2 go through any food fazes?

Glad to hear it gets easier. I'm lying here with my 6 wk old dd breastfeeding and my 15mth old ds asleep. It's tough going at d moment but hoping that in a few month's it will be distant hazy memory

16 months between my youngest two who are now 4 and 5. It's a lovely age gap and means they like pretty much the same things

11 month gap here - now 27 months and 16 months. I went through hell for a while and had a bout of depression which turned me into a shouty, stressed out mess who frequently burst into tears, but it did get better. It's been the second hardest season of my life, and the most rewarding. DS was a very difficult baby and I often wondered what I'd done!

Jules I don't know if you were asking me about the stroppy toddlers (mine are definitely stroppy ) but they're mostly fine together; it's only normally when they're overtired or have been given a new toy that they argue with each other - though I can imagine that will change in years to come!
Neither of mine have gone through a fussy food stage as yet - they can both eat for England, especially ds who takes after his dad and will happily eat anything you put in front of him. Dd is a bit more reluctant but generally eats well unless she's poorly - this week she's had pretty much nothing apart from toast, bread&jam and porridge!

Aww thanks ladies for sharing your stories:) I'm glad you all say it gets easier!

I have really suffered pnd and anxiety this time so crippling not wanting to leave the house, thought people were judging me for being so young and not coping. Maybe some if it was in my head, but the clique at play group can be bitchy! I've sought help from gp and that plus anxiety meds are helping me be less shouty and stresses out:)

Mumofboyo think it's normal the tantrum stage isn't it? Just the local mums say no my sons an angel lol! As for eating she's always demolished whatever was given to her until a month ago! Were wasting so much good ATM, my failsafe is weetabix, scrabbled eggs and cheese (not all together btw that would be random lol)

Do any of you work? I've been back nearly 3 months and finding juggling part 3 days work, having 2 little ones to entertain rest of the week and keeping the house respectable a challenge. My hubby does help but rarely will say, take my two to the park to give me a break or so I can get housework done!

Are your hubby's, bf, partners supportive?

16 months between my eldest two

They are now 6.9 and 5.5 years old

Personally I found the toddler years hardest, having two doing tantrums etc at the same time

Much easier now and they are brilliant together, always someone to play with, they share interests and have similar abilities with school like stuff so can do things together

One thing I do find now is that during school holidays and even sometimes at weekends because they are together so much they get on each others nerves!

I went back to work when they were 5 and 21 months and tbh back then I found it ok

Now we have Dc3 18 months and I find I do struggle sometimes and feel I miss out on things

But I also feel bad on dc3 for not having a close sibling!

13 month age gap here. They are now 16 and 17 years old! The first 2 years were hard word and after that a doddle in comparison. I went back to work 2 full days initially when DC2 was about 5 months and that kept me sane. DH has always pulled his weight and looked after them 1 of the days I worked. DC2 was hard work - very clingy, woke up every 2 hours etc. If she had been born first I think I would have a much larger age gap! They have always been great friends though and have always played together. I wouldn't change the small age gap for anything.
Well done op for surviving your first year!

I would say that 2-4 is normal tantrum stage judging by my children, my sisters' children and those I meet at work (supply teacher).

I think they get frustrated because they physically can't do what they want - dd is currently trying to put a wooden cake together but can't work out how to fit the pieces together and is getting really cross with herself; that and the fact that her speech isn't good enough yet to express herself well enough means she screams instead of talking to me and asking for help. I try to give her the words but it feels like slow progress!

I work 3 days a week (or at least, I'm available for work those days; it's been a slow start after the summer holidays but is picking up now) and I really enjoy it. I felt like returning to work gave me back my identity and a sense of purpose (not saying that SAHP have no purpose; it's just that I felt like I had no direction or aim when I stayed at home). It's easier than staying at home as I get a proper lunch break and her to use the loo without anyone banging on the door!

Dh is very supportive but the dc prefer me and when we're both there it's me that they climb all over - I often find that by the end of the day I'm so 'touched out' that I can't stand for dh to touch, cuddle or kiss me at all and this is having a big impact on our relationship.

Haha you sound just like me mumofboyo! I totally agree about working I get peace on way to a d from work (an hour each way) half an hour lunch break! Plus I get to pee in peace:)

I feel the old me coming back my brain had turned to mush. Been back 2 months now and getting back into the swing of things.

I agree on the hubby side of things too. I can't stand to even talk to him after a busy day, I just want peace and quiet! Let alone anything else lol! Refreshing to know I'm not alone:)