...is so hard! When we had just one, either my DH or I were free to do things. But now with 2, none of us have any time! Looking back, I realize how much easier it was with just one. I'm hoping once my 2nd grows older, they'll both play together and act more like a "group" or dyad. But right now, it's like we're raising 2 separate individuals.
Mothers of 2+, did you notice a big difference going from 1 to 2 kids?
hostess / wonderful honeydew / 32460 posts
One is SO much easier!!!! I've gotten used to taking care of 2 solo though!
admin / wonderful grape / 20724 posts
Yah one was crazy easier. But it seemed so hard at the time!!
coconut / 8299 posts
@mrbee: That's true! I thought it was really hard at the time. But looking back now, one was SO much easier!
GOLD / wonderful coffee bean / 18478 posts
My older DD will NOT stop playing with her baby sister. She's a real life baby doll to her. I have to intervene a lot. 
blogger / eggplant / 11551 posts
One is SOO much easier!! It's like a vacation when I just take care of one now. I forgot how tiring it is to hold a non-mobile kid 24/7 too. Though of course having a toddler comes with its own set of $%^^&@U@ crazy too.
I will say though, that the transition from 1-2 was still easier for me than the transition from 0-1. My 2nd one is a pretty easy baby, but yes it's still tiring! No downtime, ever.
blogger / eggplant / 11551 posts
@Andrea: this!! i can't just leave my baby in a jumperoo or under the mobile and just do my thing. i have to monitor the older one to make sure she doesn't accidentally kill her baby brother! anything he's up to, she wants to be a part of too. oy.
GOLD / wonderful coffee bean / 18478 posts
@Mrs. High Heels: I see other kids ignoring their baby siblings and I'm like wow, that is so much better?? (For me, lol)
grapefruit / 4400 posts
OMG. is this what the rest of us have to look forward to?!?! LOL.
@Mrs. High Heels: good to know that the transition from 1-2 was easier than 0-1 though!
pomegranate / 3983 posts
I'm going to sound like a broken record but yes one is SO much easier! I think when they get older it will be great because they already like being together but I know they are also going to be double trouble. 
grapefruit / 4823 posts
It was definitely easier with 1, than 2! It hasn't been as hard as I thought it was going to be. DS is getting less jealous...but is having problems with gentle. But then again at 16 months, do you really know what gentle is? I just told my mom the other day, that I used to think going out with DS was daunting, but with an newborn and a 16 month old who runs in all directions, it's like a vacation when I just have one lol
persimmon / 1081 posts
@Mrs. Confetti: I agree! I'm taking the attitude that there's nothing I can do about it now, I'm already more than halfway thru my pregnancy, so oh well, it is what it is (or will be).
admin / wonderful grape / 20724 posts
@Mrs. Confetti: it does get easier as we get more parenting skillz, I think!!
kiwi / 711 posts
I told my husband that I can't believe I ever complained with one kid. I laugh to myself though when I hear myself saying, "don't color on your brother, please", "don't sit on your brother", and the list goes on. But they are worth the house arrest I put myself on. Haha.
pomegranate / 3275 posts
I would say that one is much easier than two, however I love having two. I enjoy being a mother to two children more than I did to just one (I suppose it is because I have to be multitasking at all time!) Even though it is more work it is so much more rewarding (in my opinion). At this point (DD is 3.5 years old and DS is 18 months old) I feel weird when I go out alone 
And, I'll let you know how going from 2 to 3 is in January I'm much less afraid of that transition than I was going from 1 to 2!
kiwi / 619 posts
@HabesBabe: I was just thinking the same thing...I'm getting pretty nervous reading all this! :
pomegranate / 3411 posts
i've had hope that some things will be easier. i seriously didn't know what to expect with a baby. I didn't even know how to change a diaper! So i hope with all my newfound baby skills that it will be easier the second time around.....then i remember that i will also have a toddler at the same
honeydew / 7488 posts
It is a rough transition but gets way better. Sometimes I look back and laugh at my neurotic, one-child self. Two has its challenges even after it gets better though.. My easy and relaxed second child has become quite the handful at age 2... Thank goodness big sis is independent (minus the emotional outbursts pre-pre-teen sulking, oy)...
pineapple / 12234 posts
I do think having one is WAY easier but I don't think having two is as hard as the transition from being childless to having one child (if that makes sense).
bananas / 9118 posts
This sounds a lot like not realizing how much free time we had before we had kids, only worse 
hostess / wonderful watermelon / 39513 posts
@HLK208: Yes, 0 to 1 was harder than 1 to 2!
coconut / 8681 posts
What a fun enlightenment this thread has been =P
I am obviously an insane person because its actually made me even more excited about having 2! I'm naive I think...
pineapple / 12234 posts
@lemondrop: @Sweet T: Noo! Don't be scared! At times, it's double the amazing and wonderful that having one is! But of course there are some hard parts too and they are harder than just having one. Definitely not scary-hard though!
pineapple / 12234 posts
@Running Elley: haha you're not insane! It's a challenge but at the end of the day, I feel good that a) I haven't lost my mind b) my children are happy
blogger / eggplant / 11551 posts
@lemondrop: @Sweet T: aw don't be scared! it's harder and more tiring in some ways, but life is so much funner and fuller having two!! I love seeing my older one take on her new role as big sister too. No regrets here!
pomegranate / 3329 posts
Going from 1 to 2 was a cake walk compared to going from 2 to 3!!!
With that said though there was a 9 year difference between #1 and # 2.
bananas / 9118 posts
@Mrs. High Heels: @HLK208: lol, thanks ladies My first reaction was crap, crap, crappity, crap, crap.
Just like #1, I know that #2 will be our missing piece. The logistics do worry me, I know I'll do more baby wearing, but juggling two in and out of stores will be interesting.
I did just order a life-like baby doll for him to start playing with gently. Let the older sibling training begin...
nectarine / 2217 posts
hahahah not sure if it was a mistake to open this thread as i sit here at past 39weeks pregnant, and with my 15 month old just down for bed..... hmmm....
well, i had better embrace the crazy!!
coconut / 8681 posts
@HLK208: Haha those are definitely both positive things to focus on Fingers crossed that I can get through the days without losing my mind- heaven knows some days I barely make it now!
@lemondrop: I feel the same way about just knowing that #2 will be another missing piece. Good call about the life size doll- I may just use that idea too!
bananas / 9118 posts
@Running Elley: I was just messaging a friend of mine yesterday about how she was doing since her second arrived (her first is 18 months older than her second). She said she is tired, but otherwise it hasn't been too bad so far. She said shopping and errands is her hardest thing with two, and that her first gets jealous when daddy holds the baby. Her oldest loves to bring her things to help with the baby though
honeydew / 7968 posts
I went from 0 to 2 and I'm not sure how I survived the first year. I always think how easy it would have been with one, but, I know even if I just had one, I'd still think how impossibly hard it is.
coconut / 8299 posts
Awww. I hope I didn't scare anyone! As hard as it is, I would never ever ever want a different life. I absolutely love having 2 kids. Our home feels so much more "full" and I love it! When my kids are running around giggling and laughing. Or when big brother comforts his little sister, it completely melts my heart.
And I agree...going from 0 to 1 was way way harder than 1 to 2. But I don't think any of us with kids would ever want to go back to our "no kids" days.
admin / watermelon / 14210 posts
i've actually wanted to write a post about this because we're going through the hardest stage right now with 2 (Olive is 23 months, Charlie is almost 4). It's a hard age for both of them (it was easier when she was a baby). I admit sometimes I do question whether a 22 month age gap was too close, but I never have any regrets. Yes it is hard right now, but it's for a short time and I think and hope that they will grow up to be super close in the next year or so!
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