Don't let these sweet faces fool ya!
Wow, I have to say being a mom to twin two year olds (almost 2 1/2) is currently KICKING MY BUTT (I just typed BUSS on accident, I refuse to read into the whole butt/bus thing) ANYWAYS, the boys are basically running the roost lately. I am at a complete loss. Jared and I are being consistent in our discipline and it still feels like it is not working. We are admittedly discouraged. I have moments of triumph with them that make me feel like a good Mama and then the tables quickly turn. We enjoy hugs, kisses and "I love you's" followed by walking into their room and finding that they have completely emptied their dresser drawers (while we have company). We laugh at the hysterical things that they say followed by checking on them during "nap"and finding that they are on top of the dresser playing. Their naps are "successful" if it only take me an hour to calm them down and then they sleep for an hour. It is exhausting, draining, depleting. I think that describes how I feel this instant.
I've always thought that if you do everything you can to parent well that your children would behave well however I now know that kids are kids. I have two year olds not mini-adults. They are going to act like two year olds. We will get through this stage and then we will be on to another challenge but as this is my scrapbook to my children I wanted to note that this is HARD. I know that doesn't surprise any parents out there but when I am a grandparent I want to look back at this and remember that it wasn't all a breeze. So that is it. No words of wisdom just reality staring out at me and snickering ;)
Ha, I bet you NEVER thought that I would get to the thankful part. Fooled ya! In all this I am thankful for my boys. I am thankful that they are physically able to climb on dressers and yell "MINE" at one another. I am thankful that they have curious and creative little minds. I am thankful for my husband who is at the forefront of this battle with me, leading us every step of the way. Thank you Lord! I know that it will only strengthen us as we grow as a couple and as parents. BUT most of all today I am thankful that "This Too Shall Pass". Can I get an AMEN?!?! (It will pass, won't it???) :)
I wrote this post yesterday and last night I had a reality check and told Jared that I wish I could rewind to the first 6 months with twin preemies and spend a few days there. It could then remind me how difficult THAT was and I would be more than happy to come back and endure the challenge of this age of 2. The other upside would be to squeeze those sweet babies! I forgot how humongous and sweet Alex's cheeks were.
You can join in on Thanksgiving Thursday here.
68 comments:
There is a reason we called Nate "Nate 2.5". He was his own insane entity, like some crazy robot came and took over his being. 2.5 was so very very very very hard with him. It was so hard that it made Alex seem easy but even that was insane.
The thing that helped me was knowing that kids need to make mistakes to LEARN how to be good kids.
Also the book Your Two Year Old: Terrible or Tender really helped me understand why they did those insane things!! I would highly recommend it!!
Oh gosh Becky yes, I also find that every stage of twindom certainly has it's own trials and tribulations, it's own challenges and joys.Thanks for visiting.
My Irish Twins are 2.5 and 3.5. I feel like the worst mom in the world because they are out of control and I don't know what to do to rein them back in. Besides duct taping them to the couch.
You are right...This too shall pass.
Have a great day!
You are a wonderful mom. Yes, this will pass, but then you will have other issues :) We are dealing with attitude to everything!! It gets old really quick! Hang in there. Your kids are so sweet. I can tell they have great,loving parents. Enjoy this time. They grow up fast. Rylee started K this week and I am missing her. Have a great day.
What sweet pictures :)
This will pass! I promise you. From their sweet looks, it is good that they are cute!
~Elyse
Your boys are adorable!!! And yes, what a blessing to realize how far they've come! Those chubby cheeks and jowels totally remind me of my daughter around that age - chubbers!!
AMEN!! First off, you are absolutely right!! i love that you find the sweet spots out of frustrating moments! and secondly...those pics are just too cute!
Oh, but they are so adorable! It will probably pass - I'm still crossing my fingers!
I used to think raising well-behaved kids was easy. My son was so easy going. I could just tell him what to do, and he did it. A breeze... just good parenting right? And then came my little girl! I realized that I knew nothing about parenting, and it was only by the grace of God that my son turned out so well. He was just made that way! My little girl is strong willed and has a mind of her own. Adorable, but not easy in any way. So here I am, realizing that in all my weakness I'm desperately in need of HELP... We do our very best and then we just have to trust God to take care of the rest..
Kids are just different. And being a teacher I see more and more that it's not automatic that a well behaved child equals well parenting and vice versa. It's so much a matter of personality too... So lower your shoulders. Know that you are doing your very best. Trust that God will do the rest! One of my favorite scriptures says: LOVE COVERS A MULTITUDE OF SINS. I have always taken that to heart and told myself that my love for my kids, my husband and God will make our home a happy place to grow up. It will cover all my shortcoming as mom.
I do hope you gather some strength this weekend. Better days are coming!
HUGS
Awww, they're just so cute! As a mom of older kids (8,10,12), I can attest that it's true - the days are long, but the years are short. I remember nodding absent-mindedly when mine were babies/toddlers and the little ladies at church would tell me to treasure these moments - but it's so true. I can't believe now that in 10 short years my kids will all be ready to leave home!
What a lovely blog you have, I btter read it some more:)
Hugs Gunilla in Singapore
They are adorable. I totally feel your pain, too...except I can't imagine having two of my two year old. I think my son is a week older than yours. I keep having to remind myself that this too shall pass and I will miss this age because not only it is a fury of emotions that change very quickly but it is also a lot of exploration and learning.
Good luck!
Thank you to everyone for your encouraging words. :)
My goodness! You have such a great way of looking at things... I can definitely learn something here. It's so true, we are SO blessed to have such healthy, precious babies and a God that gives us the strength to care for them each day! =)
Thanks for your words... I really needed to hear that right now!
I've been on vacation so I am late on this. I agree with you that this stage is much harder and at times I am just at a loss.
Your blog always makes me smile. Thanks!
I always thought that twins would be so difficult. But you sound "doubly" blessed.
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Oh, those photographs; it's made me want to go look out all the early ones of the kids.
As you know, it really does get better; the constant battle, the repeated instructions all DO sink in, even if it doesn't seem like it.
I had the twins and another baby under two so I was a strict as I could be with the occasional falling down on the carpet and letting them take over the asylum.
When that aged passed and they could understand better, it all sunk in and they were wonderfully behaved and have been ever since. We have our moments of course...and there is still puberty to go through... ;O)
All the very best. x
here from SITS. What a great positive message. My SIL has triplets and i'm def forwarding her the link to your blog. :)
Amen! This too will pass! LOL! I thoroughly enjoyed the posts you shared on your SITS Day.
Take care and God bless you.
yep - a constant challenge is what kids are. But hey, we grow with them. Somehow it all workds out. And yours are still in their "terrble twos" anyway...
Happy SITSday!
I have no experience with kids but heard of the "Terrible Twos" which I think was named that for this reason. Fortunately, they grow older and the phase does pass. I imagine it would be a battle every day but I think you hit the nail on the head when you said you realize they are 2-yr. olds and not adults. Look for the humor in these situations and I'm sure you'll get a lot of funny blog posts out of them!
Congrats on your SITS day--oops, I forgot to include that on my other comments (Karen, author of "My Funny Dad, Harry."
Oh my goodness, the pictures of the twins as little babies practically brings a tear to my eye! So darn adorable! My little guy had those humongous cheeks, too, I miss them sometimes! He's going on 2 at this point, and I know what you mean about wanting to go back in time to a totally different level of difficult. I don't know how you do it with two of them! One is hard enough!
Love those footsie pictures. Can't get enough of 'em!
Congrats on your SITS day!
LOL!!!
It will pass...sooner or later! (maybe when they're out of the house after high school...) ;)
Beautiful photos!
Happy SITS day!
Very, very sweet. I don't think anyone sees the silver lining ALL the time. You are doing great! Your kids and you are perfect...in God;s sight. That is what matters.
Yes...it does pass:) But too quickly, if you ask me! I love that crying picture...it's almost as if you can hear them:D
My daughter had chubby cheeks..they were really rosy the first year, too. Loved kissing and snuggling those sweet cheeks...
i have a 2.5 YO right now and it's torture some days. i think you are wonderful and fabulous and awesome to be able to handle two at the same time! you ROCK. ;)
I love those pictures of your boys. They are adorable. And you are right about Alex's cheeks. They are amazingly kissable. I've noticed all your pictures are really quite good. You seem to have a real knack with a camera.
My baby is now almost 5 and I wish so bad I could go back to 2 or younger. It is a time like no other, as hard as it may be at times! It will pass and you will miss it, believe it or not!
Thanks for sharing, SITS!
Ok, I'm officially following you now :o) I love your passion when you write about your boys. Plus, they are TOO cute.
Those baby pics are too adorable, especially that first one. It's crazy how fast they grow up, and pretty soon this phase will pass too. My little guy is 3 now, and we have those days. But I know later on down the line, I'm going to miss that crazy little 3 year old.
It's so nice to look at those sweet sleeping faces and remember how great it was to snuggle them (when it wasn't the middle of the night at least)
I can honestly say that I don't know if there is an easy phase....maybe at 8-10 years old, before tween, teen years when they know how to behave but haven't really started to experience the pains of getting older. When my son was 12, I remember thinking one day...boy I wish he was a baby/toddler. He is a Freshman this year and, boy-o-boy, it's tough preparing for all that comes with that territory. I just pray, pray, pray:)
I feel for you...I have three boys and while they aren't twins...the boyish pleasures of pulling all the clothes out of the dressers doesn't go away...I went to give my daughter a bath last night and was greeted by spit balls on the ceiling!! But I am glad that you are able to look at these times and be able to realize that while they are stressful...your boys are happy and healthy and here!!
Enjoyed your sits day!! Hope you get a lot of comment love!!
One of the reasons I blog is to be thankful for all the crazy and insane moments that each of my kiddies bring me. Whether it is popcorn up a nose, poopie paint, or some other lunacy. I am eternally grateful and thankful each and every day! :)
Your boys are beautiful. If it wasn't for the harder moments we'd have less to blog about!
i dont have kids yet, but i can only imagine what 2 at a time was like! Have a good time while they were young...and take the bad with what im sure is WAY more good!
Good Lord, I can't even imagine how difficult it is to have ONE two year old, let alone TWINS :P.
I bet they are going to look at this in a few years and they'll absolutely love it, because it shows how much you love them and how good of a mother you are :).
www.americantribal.blogspot.com
you sound like you have the right attitude. I keep looking at it in 6 month phases. but like you said there is always a new challenge. your photos are so sweet. My 2 1/2 year old is a challenge I can't imagine 2 of him. ;)
Happy SITS day!
Poor Mommy you are just having a bad day... rest is the answer but as you know that is not so easy with young rug rats gnawing at your ankles...LOL... been there done that but with only one... I don't envy you... mine is all grown up and on her own and these are the days you will actually look back on and chuckle... it is a phase sweetie hang in there... Love conquers all...
Hugs...
Deb
Poor Mommy you are just having a bad day... rest is the answer but as you know that is not so easy with young rug rats gnawing at your ankles...LOL... been there done that but with only one... I don't envy you... mine is all grown up and on her own and these are the days you will actually look back on and chuckle... it is a phase sweetie hang in there... Love conquers all...
Hugs...
Deb
I can't imagine having twin two-year-olds and facing more than double the challenges of that phase! You are a strong woman! :-)
I absolutely LOVE your blog and especially this story. It makes me feel better to hear that other moms deal w/ the same stresses of little darling toddlers. LOL
But at the end of the day I too am just thankful that my baby is here to be a monster! :)
Your babies' cheeks were sooo cute!
My DIL has a 2 year old (and an infant) and I'd forgotten how exhausting that age can be - I can't imagine that times two!
God Bless You!!
Hope you had a wonderful SITS Feature Day!!!
Growth can be trying at times.
I can Sooooo relate, my 2 & 1/2 yr old grandson lives with me, they are tremendous pleasures mixed with days you wanna fall face down into a martini.
Cheers,
C
Oh, I just absolutely LOVE those pictures of when they were still so tiny! Especially the one of their little feet :) I LOVE BABY TOES!!
I have a resident two year old. I can't imagine having twice the fun! Oh, my.
You're not alone. My butt is as big as a buss AND my twins run me like a dog. There are times when i think I'm the only one out there that can't seem to wrangle them in. But then I remember....THEY ARE TWO! AND THERE ARE TWO OF THEM! And I keep telling myself...that if we are all safe, healthy and happy at the end of the day....IT WAS A GOOD DAY! No matter what's really gone on!
My son turns three next month. I totally know where you're coming from with the discipline. Sometimes I feel like I discipline just for the fun of it because I'm not sure it makes any difference to him. He seems to act how he wants to act - whether that be sweet or crazy. I'm sure twins just makes the craziness just that much more crazy.
Getting through the 2's and 3's with my son was an accomplishment...my daughter is 2 now, and all I can say is Whew! But they are worth it.
Holly
PS-Those cheeks are adorable!
Precious photos :)
Nice job playing "The Glad Game" - it's one of my favorites. For every negative/seemingly difficult/tough/no fun thing that's happening you have to find something good in it :) Keeps me happy day in and day out
xx
Oh my. Those cheeks. Delish! My boys are 7 and 5 and I have to remind myself of those silver linings at least once a week!
"This too shall pass" indeed! It's one of my favorite sayings (and in fact posted about it recently). I keep a little rock in my pocket and I rub it everytime I need a reminder.
I think we would all like to go back and squeeze those adorable chubby cheeks!
Enjoy your SITS day!
Amen and Amen! I could have written this exact post, I have serious goosebumps. I was just looking at pictures of my twins when they were babies wishing I could go back to that time. My boys empty out their drawers and jump of their beds every day! (And that is just the beginning, oh I could tell you stories) I quit putting the clothes back and just find them clothes on the floor.
It is exhausting!! But they are such a blessing, too, you are right.
I do have one tip for you...not long ago my twins quit napping because I would put them down and they would play. I was at my wits end because that is my sanity time! So...I started putting one to bed and then when he fell asleep (usually about 15-20 minutes) I would put down the other. They had always fallen asleep together before but now that I've started doing this they take 2-3 hour naps again! And our twins are only a couple of days apart so maybe it will work with yours!
Okay...your pictures are the BEST! Keep up the good work.
You get an AMEN here...
It is so hard when we are doing everything we can and NOTHING seems to work for our children to act the way WE want when WE want them too. You hit the nail on the head...they are children and they will act as such. And as every new and harder phase approaches we will be thankful for how far we have come
Never fear, this too shall pass. =)
I would have loved to have squeezed those cute little cheeks.
AMEN! It is hard! I hear ya, and I don't want to be the bearer of bad news, but if you think that 2 year old is struggle, trust me sister, it's just getting you prepared to handle 3 years old. But you are so right, with every single temper tantrum comes the inevitable snuggling session. With every toss of a stuffed animal at the door comes a big smooch on the cheek. It is worth it and those pics of those babies together in the crib are priceless. You can handle it, and if you ever feel like you're at the end of your rope be thankful you are blessed with the ability to write your feelings so eloquently...enjoy the two's...they go fast. Thanks for sharing.
Alex aka Ma What's For Dinner
Nothing seems to phase a toddler. They are into everything! Those little baby pictures are so adorable.
i have a 19 mo. old and am struggling with letting her be a kid and when to discipline. no matter how mad she makes me I look and her and am so thankful I have her in my life. Just wish I knew how to deal with her craziness sometimes!
Those baby photos are so adorable. So sweet. You're not going to believe this but I've been thinking about having a Thanksgiving Thursday for every Thursday leading up to thanksgiving! Now I guess I'll just have to check yours out and join in!
pk @ Room Remix
Those are great pics and a great outlook, something more mom's should have. I get tired of the screaming and running and constant need to be playing - but I am thankful that she can do all those things and that I can witness it!
Ahhhhhh, what sweet little munchkins! I'm having difficulty coming to grips with the fact that my little dude is a full fledged toddler and no longer a baby. Sigh.
OMGosh I go back and forth daily with feeling this way about my 3 year old. When exactly does it pass? One minute he drives me bonkers and the next I can't help but be reminded of how sweet he is and cute I might add. But just wait... I have a 12 year old as well. So although this part passes, the tween years aren't far. UGH I'm so not ready for the teen years.
Isn't that the truth...this too shall pass...we hope! I always remind myself to be content in each and every stage and to remember when it gets hard, that this is only a stage! Thanks for the encouraging words!! :)
The boys are adorable, but two year olds are tough!
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