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The 2 (or more?!) Under 2 Support Thread!

567 replies

GrrrlWith2Boys · 04/12/2007 14:50

Post your woes (or joys) here if you're currently tackling 2 kids under 2 (please say i'm not alone!)

DS1 is super wingey today and driving me batty...the slightest thing and he's whining and crying.

Have managed a 10 min walk with pushchair to get out of house. DS1 watching far too much TV, i haven't brushed my hair and the dog won't stop barking.

I need some gin.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
hazeyjane · 01/02/2008 15:09

Hello everyone.

Using the library computer, as dh is moving everything up today, and we are waiting around the village (have done - library, cafe, park, coffee at friends house, play corner at church, buying dora comic at newsagents, fortunately they have both fallen asleep in the pushchair - we've been out since 9am, so thought I'd come in here for my mumsnet fix!) until he gets back from moving stuff in and picks us up, which hopefully won't be too late.As soon as the girls went to bed last night we lugged furniture around, until 1 am. Of course as soon as we went to bed dd2 woke up full of beans, so i feel about 100 today ( and look about 150 - must get round to dying my hair!).

Cazwa, don't beat yourself up, I think we've all been close to breaking point, and can't imagine how hard it must be if your dh is away alot. My dh is usually so patient and calm with ours that it puts me to shame, but there have been several times when he has walked in and I've just had to leave the room to lie on the bed and calm down, because I feel like I can't take it any more. It's a knackering, unpredictable and often thankless task so it's not surprising that we lose it sometimes.

Supergrrl, I know what you mean about the telly, I am a complete telly head (always have been), and have to be really careful that it doesn't just get left on all day. The cbeebies radio on bbc7 is good (although dd1 stares at the blank TV screen when it is on). I try and have sessions in different parts of the house, upstairs to bounce on the beds, kitchen to spoon rice into bowls (dd1's favourite hobby)etc. However sometimes when the going gets tough Cbeebies is my saviour, and I try not to feel too bad about it.

hazeyjane · 01/02/2008 15:11

Oooh that was a long post.
We might not be able to get broadband connection for a couple of weeks when we move (grrr), so I might not get the chance to post for a bit, unless i sort myself out at the library,but I'll try not to lose this thread!

SuperGrrrl · 01/02/2008 15:12

hope move goes well!

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

padboz · 01/02/2008 15:18

hey hazeyjane! hope it all goes smoothly. Anything thats still in a box in July can go in a bin.

Chaotica · 01/02/2008 15:19

Don't go, Hazeyjane! Or rather, don't lose us. I (for one) will miss you . Good luck with getting the new house sorted.

Chaotica · 01/02/2008 15:21

Maybe that should have been ??

Padboz -- Baa baa black sheep sometimes works for us... (used to use the storymakers' theme tune when dd was little.

padboz · 01/02/2008 15:33

ha ha Chaotica. My eldest spends alot of time looking under things at the library for jackson.

cazwa - agree with hazeyjane. its a 24 hour a day job doing things to people who appreciate none of it and wont til they have kids of their own. It would be outlawed by EU legislation if it wasn't reasonably important. You're going to get cranky every now and again, its normal. Working time directive

"Most workers should not have to work more than an average of 48 hours a week, according to the Working Time Regulations. The Regulations also give you rights to paid holiday, rest breaks and strict limits on night work."

katyt1 · 01/02/2008 20:02

hi all

hazeyjane - good luck moving

cazwa - almost been there and done that - only had the one ds driving me crazy so far, sure the 2 of them will gang up on me in the near future
there is a thread on MN about tricks to calm down when in danger of losing it - search under 'venom'+'children' i think. my fave is do a star jump cos you can't stay serious and peed off when doing something silly like that

have spent time at playgroup & friends for a playdate with the 2 boys on my own - tho have had friends on hand to help if needed - trying to get an idea of how on earth life is manageable with 2!!

Cazwa · 01/02/2008 21:22

Thanks everyone, great to know Im not the only one who loses it sometimes.
Amazing the difference a good nights sleep makes to your mood. DS slept 11-4am and DD slept through - hurrah - and I napped today when they did after lunch, AND Ive just fallen asleep on the sofa for an hour Must have needed some catch-up!
But Ive been in a great mood all day, even DH said 'youre not completely miserable today, that sleep has done you good'.. Even though we were stuck in the house all afternoon because of the weather we have had a lovely time, the kids have been so sweet together, both a lot better after colds.
Chaotica - I was thinking ear infection but she seems a lot better today.
The highs and lows of 2 under 2 - its like a rollercoaster!

Chaotica · 02/02/2008 23:26

Good to hear you're feeling better after some sleep, Cazwa. I would find it really hard to cope if I was on my own as much as you. DP is out all night tonight meeting a friend who he hasn't seen for ages and so far I'm managing fine on my own -- but you're right about the rollercoaster (I can definitely do without a night when the DCs wake up all the time [hopeful emoticon??]).

How're you managing Katyt1? I hope you're recovering from the CS well -- take all the help you can get while it's on offer (I didn't have much help, but at least DP worked at home then so I could get him to lift DD).

LOL at Padboz quoting the EU working time regulations... If only housework and childcare was included...

SuperGrrrl · 03/02/2008 20:01

i thought DS1 was having tantrums last week. How wrong i was. The fits of screaming, teary rage i have witnessed today are ASTONISHING. And DS2 screamed from teething aswell.

I love it when they are both in bed

katyt1 · 03/02/2008 21:53

supergrrl - sounds impressive

chaotica - hi, i'm doing ok. have the in-laws here for a week to help. will see how it goes, they are good with ds1 particularly.

managed a nice nap earlier while they played with ds1 so hope to bank some sleep during this week.

padboz · 03/02/2008 22:34

hi girls. I am here to gloat. mine slept for 2 hours today at the same time and I did the washing up and then had 40 minutes sleep myself. ah haaaaaaaa haa haa haa.

sorry. pulls self together. Snigger. sorry. pulls self together.

katy1 (and the others going through it) - its good to have help of course but cant imagine getting over major surgery at the same time as coping with a newborn. How weird/messy is the CS experience? never been sliced open myself- urg.

padboz · 03/02/2008 22:37

jeez - WHAT AN AWFUL POST. I had a nice day... rare but still possible apparently

Sarah92 · 04/02/2008 12:26

What a great idea for a subject!

I've got an 18 month old who'll be 21 months when the next one arrives in May. I'm already wondering how I'm going to cope. The 18 month old is tantrumming for Britain these days, and more than enough to cope with all on his tod. What on Earth it will be like with two?? At least I'll know that there are plenty of others in the same badly leaking boat...

padboz · 04/02/2008 13:34

Hi Sarah92 - Count down til May then. You'll be fine. There will be rubbish bits and you wont sleep much but you'll cope. And on the plus side, when the eldest has a proper strop you'll HAVE to ignore it cos you wont have time to deal with it! ha ha. Another plus side - at least the weather will be better in May and you can get out with them both to tire out elder one and let the little one sleep in the buggy.

Chaotica · 04/02/2008 13:43

Hi Sarah92 and welcome. Look on the bright side: if the first one is tantruming now, the second might be used to it once he/she is born (our youngest could sleep through screaming right next to the moses basket).

Padboz. You had SLEEP. again.

Supergrrrl time for some earplugs, perhaps? I do know some thoroughly charming children who tantrumed for Britain in their time (won't say their relationship to me in case anyone recognises me from RL the screaming and shouting is quickly forgotten once it passes, I find) (I just wish it would pass in our case, but DD isn't too bad, at least not usually).

(I will regret that last sentence, I know I will!)

Take all the help from the in-laws you can, Katyt1 it's good to have the eldest doing something on their own without the baby I find. Makes them feel better about the changes we over-used our childminder when I'd had a cs so that DD could go off and play without a baby around (and I could cope).

Now off to the dentist with DS in tow . I hope he doesn't scream through the appointment. (Actually this would be a better dentist-going emoticon...) (sorry!)

padboz · 04/02/2008 14:07

SuperGrrrl - have you tried distracting DS1 in the early stages of a melt down? Its the usual advice so granny/eggs proviso but I find - shouting 'CRIKEY! I think I've forgotten where I left the washing machine!' Or something will get mine running to help me find it ( although I appreciate shes a lot older than your DS )she loves looking smug and helping me look daft by managing something I 'can't'. Failing that, start doing something really intricate and small with your back turned to him so he has to come and see what you are doing - doesn't matter what it is - I remember threading lots of dry macaroni onto one of the cords of my maternity trousers incredibly carefully and serenely just so that she had to stop and ask me what I was doing.

ha ha Chaotica - Knew I shouldnt have mentioned the sleep. This time last year I literally kept thinking I was seeing little red crabs crawling up the walls of the living room out of the corner of my eye I was so tired. There actually weren't any crabs in my living room obviously. Dentist - lovely.

justabouttotakeadeepbreath · 05/02/2008 10:29

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

padboz · 05/02/2008 11:18

justabout - you're giving up mumsnet for lent? nooooooooooooooo! crazy!

justabouttotakeadeepbreath · 05/02/2008 11:25

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SuperGrrrl · 05/02/2008 13:36

What a blardy day

V. tired so been grumpy and impatient, and swearing at DS1...v. ashamed of myself i'm afraid.

They both sleeping- DS2 rarely sleeps in the day, so have scoffed a tin of soup asap, and made myself a cup of tea. Should be calmer when they both awake later i hope.

Does anyone else feel like a misery when their DH rings to see how your going? He rang earlier and i relied 'S**t. I'm covered in sick...blah blah...soup been thrown over kitchen...blah blah...DS1 not listening to me...feel like drinking already..grump grump.'

Poor man. It's a wonder he comes home after work
We're having a curry tonight though, and hopefully i'll get a bath. And some clothes that don't smell of sick. Haven't even brushed my teeth or hair [icky emoticon]

Chaotica · 05/02/2008 17:21

I don't think you're alone here, Supergrrrl -- I too feel icky most of the time: makeup gathering dust, hair a mess (and increasingly grey), clothes covered in sick.

And I get truly fed up and DP finds out all about it poor long-suffering man sometimes I just can't face another nappy, or negotiate DD into coat and shoes without a tantrum so we can go somewhere that she wants to go [suppressed ].

Added to which, DS seems to have decided in his little 4m-old way that he'd much prefer to sleep in our bed. He just won't settle in the cot once we're in the room. In fact, come to think of it, I think he'd like a double bed all to himself if he could . Problem is, there's not really room in our bed (and sure can't have his own!). So I went out today to order DD a proper bed so that he can her comfy cot instead of his crap one... I just hope DD likes her bed (or I've made no progress whatsoever).

Giving us up for Lent, justabout?? See you at Easter then. (Which reminds me I said I'd do some work before then!)

justabouttotakeadeepbreath · 05/02/2008 19:03

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Chaotica · 05/02/2008 20:29

lol, justabout.

(and lol padboz about the washing machine -- might well use that )

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