7 Truths Of Having 2 Kids In 2 Years (Or Less)

Hi.

*Yawns.*

Oh, I’m sorry. I’m just rubbing my tired eyeballs as I try to chug my second cup of coffee before icicles form on top of my “World’s Best Mom” mug. I’m also trying to prevent one child from grabbing a knife from the kitchen counter while screaming at the other one to not jump off the sofa.

Contrary to what that mug says, I’ve been feeling less than anyone’s “best mom” these days. Perhaps I’m too hard on myself, but lately I feel like my kids are getting the short end of the stick. They’re both going through some rough “phases” right now and it’s hell. Why? Because raising toddlers is really, really exhausting.

No, I’m not just really tired, I’m exhausted. I’m emotionally, mentally, and physically exhausted.

The moment when I peed on that stick and those two faint lines appeared, I knew how hard it was going to be having kids just 18 months apart. It was like all of the worst things flashed before my eyes: double dirty-diapers, double melt-downs, double teething, double the fights, double the chaos.

In the beginning– it was hard. Now? It’s harder. You may think that I have my hands full and you are absolutely correct.

Motherhood was golden when my second son was just an infant. He slept 95% of the time and wasn’t mobile. Sure, I had to factor in the multiple feedings per day and my first son going through the whole “big brother transition,” but looking back, that was the easy part. Phew. I was so naive back then.

I now have a 2.5-year-old and 1-year-old, and I’m drowning. I’m not being dramatic, by any means, because I really, really am drowning– let’s just say that the proverbial shit hit the fan once my youngest turned one. Game. Over.

If you’re curious as to why, I listed some of the reasons below. (And if you have two kids really close in age, then you feel me on this.)

1. They are beginning to fight with each other.

I thought that I had a few more years before I would be refereeing my boys–my oldest will put my other son in a headlock and pin him down. I’m breaking up fights more than I get to sit down. Oh, and it’s not only physical, they fight over anything… who has the better toy, who has the better sippy cup (they’re both blue), who has the better food (YOU BOTH HAVE STRAWBERRIES). I feel like my day is 98% telling them to leave each other alone.

2. One of them is ALWAYS grumpy AF.

The only time my boys are content at the exact same time is when they’re eating or sleeping.

3. One of them is ALWAYS awake.

THEY NEVER SLEEP AT THE SAME TIME. It would NEVER, EVER happen if both of them napped at the exact, same sweet time. Never. That would mean, falling asleep and waking up at the exact, same sweet time. And night-time is a gamble since our oldest sleeps in our bed and frequently tosses and turns.

4. There’s always a phase.

One of them is ALWAYS going through some sort of “phase” that makes life hard AF, because, like I said earlier, one of them is always grumpy.

5. Going out of the house feels like a freaking marathon.

If I could stay in my house 24/7 (without the risk of my boys or myself going completely bonkers), I would. The whole process of going out is soooo daunting that if I’m planning on being out with my two boys, it better be worth it.

6. Grocery shopping is hell.

If I had a to describe what Hell would be like, it would be grocery shopping with two toddlers. I can’t say much more about it except… I loathe it with every fiber in me.

7. They feed off of each other.

Ugh. Yes. Whenever one of them has an uber melt-down moment, it’s a guarantee that the other one will! My youngest is notorious for being a “sympathy crier” so if my oldest is in time-out and crying, my youngest immediately reacts. The worse is probably when we’re in the car and they both start going off.

So there are a few (of the many) reasons why raising toddlers is exhausting. Can you relate? Don’t forget, Mama, we’re in this wild and hectic mom-life together.