I was asked today by another mom who's expecting her second baby: "What has been the most difficult part of becoming a mother of two?" This is my response:
One thing that was surprisingly difficult in the first week or so was watching my "baby" (Eli) grow up before my eyes and become a big boy. I cried over that more than once. I know that bringing Jude home was the greatest gift we could ever give Eli and becoming a big brother has come so naturally to him. Seeing Eli take on this role has been an amazing experience as a mom. He has adapted more gracefully than I, without a doubt!
I would say the hardest thing for me has been trying to establish a new normal. I've been recovering from my c-section (with some minor complications) and nursing a bad cold, which has probably made it a little bit harder on me.
It is a difficult thing to feel like you are being stretched thin; Between Eli and Jude both needing me in different ways (and sometimes at the same time), keeping up the house (not really a negotiable thing for me since a clean house brings me peace), trying to be an attentive/kind/loving wife, and still holding on to my identity outside of mom and wife I have felt in high demand from every angle.
I think this is normal? To have this crazy period of adjustment. Feel free to chime in, other moms of two!?
Thankfully I have a patient and understanding husband who is active in his role as father, Eli adores his little brother, and Jude is a very easy-going baby... all of those things make my job a little easier.
The easiest part, of course, is enjoying my family. Watching Eli take his brother under his wing, sweet baby snuggles, almost getting my first real smile today from Jude, seeing Daniel interact with his sons... nothing beats watching your family grow in size and love. There are growing pains, of course, but it is more than worth it!
My biggest difficulty with mothering two children (almost 27 months apart) was going out in public. Prior to our 2nd baby, I'd take my oldest to Story Time at the Library, play dates, indoor play houses, and to run errants without too much of a problem (as long as he had a snack and it wasn't nap time). When his littler sister arrived though, every "quick" outing became a nightmare. One time I literally had to grab my oldest by his hair, in a parking lot, because he was refusing to hold on to my bag and I was carrying his baby sister in a car-seat and groceries. I swear for nearly the first 6 months we would all three be crying on our way home from anywhere... But it got better. Now I have 3 kids.
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