Photo by KT on Unsplash
I never thought juggling two kids was an easy job, and trying to find that moment where you give attention to both without the other one feeling like the odd one out or the third wheel. I just wanted to share my experience of how it has been, especially when one of the my kids is still breastfeeding, clingy and basically I am their human blanket. I have found myself holding one on one boob and cuddling the other who is only five years old like an octopus expect missing a few arms to complete me.
Its not been easy believe you me, I would say I have found some solutions that have worked for me. Tested and tried by me. Before I would get caught up in the whole whirlwind rush of change nappies,feed kids, clothe and clean the house and what else? tonne more other stuff I am sure, by house I mean the mountain of toys that I constantly have to pack away ,the Hansel and Gretal bread crumb trail.Being it summer time with the whole ants coming out, am sure they'd love dining at our place after meals ( am only kidding). It is more like am a robot on repeat button. Anywes getting to the point I was going about it all wrong,by the end of my monotonous habit of doing this and that I would be too tired to play even thinking about play would make me even more tired (LOL). I would feel emotionally guilty when I fail to play with either of them or cuddle one and not the other. I don't know if any of you mamas can relate. So I decided to balance it out, or square it out.
Quality time
Make sure even if its a good five minutes or ten minutes you have to spare between ironing or doing the laundry or whatever it is that we mums get up to. Make those minutes worth it. Make it special, make it count. lets say when Baby is asleep and I can be honest ill be thinking let me just quickly wipe down or do those dishes and you hear a little voice ' mummy lets play racing cars...lets play dinosaurs c'mon'. and you are like erm...I have to...DON'T go there. Lets face it, dishes will always be there, mounds of never ending laundry will always be there, I don't know if Ive seen the end of my laundry basket with the never stopping pile of clothes. Spare those few minutes and make it worth it,You wont regret it. He will remember and treasure it.
Involve him/Her
Most often if you are like me you'll find me dangling with my baby on one arm while I relax or even when I want to do something else. Obviously I cant explain to baby that its your brothers' turn to spend a little moment with mummy can you scoot a little. That wont happen. With that whole situation I decided Ill involve my other child. Even if its getting a book and ill read for them both, bear in mind with the other trying to chew the pages in the process or dribbling everywhere.When changing baby, ask him to pass on the wipes and praise him for being such an awesome big brother or whatever else that you can think of that just makes you both giggle, some fun and games maybe...?.It's worth it. Nothing beats laughter especially that beautiful sound your kids make of total enjoyment.
I know I am still learning and that there's lots of other tips out there that probably work magic too.I would love to hear them too. I hope you enjoyed reading my blog and feel free to pop by next time. Don't be a stranger. Till next time..
