I have been wanting to make the caterpillar out of an egg carton craft with DD for days. I can't do anything like this with DS around. DD and I work on her workbooks and sometimes coloring when she gets up after her nap. This only happens IF DS is still sleeping.
They are on the same schedule so usually when she is up, so is he.
The reason I can't do these things with DS around is because he is my shadow and there is no way he can be entertained by something separate while DD and I are working on something at the table. He will also try to climb into my lap and will grab anything that's within his reach on the table. There is no way he can do this kind of stuff with us unless I am 100% assisting him- and I can't do that because DD needs me too.
It is just a huge pain to do this stuff with him around! I feel like a failure- why can't I figure out how to keep him busy so DD and I can do something crafty/educational at the table?!
DD is finally getting to the fun age of wanting to do all of this stuff- including helping me with cooking and baking. But DS is always whining at our feet and literally trying to climb up me. It's not that he can't entertain himself, but if he sees us doing something interesting, he wants in on it too.
I am just so annoyed. Having 2 kids at these ages is just so frustrating sometimes and I feel like I am missing out on 1:1 time with each kid.
Re: So hard to do these things with 2 LOs- Frustrated!!!
Can you put DS in a highchair or booseter seat and give him his own pile of similar supplies?
To this day, I still plop DD on the kitchen floor or highchair with a sensory tub that I rotate the contents while I cook - dried beans, rice, oats, penne noodles, cotton balls, snips of yarn, etc with measuring cups, spoons, etc.
Those ages must be tough because they have such different skill sets yet are so close in age! Hang in there!
highchair- with his own craft/activity.
let him help bake. - give him a bunch of bowls, spoons, collander, etc. I cook with my DD and DS sits on the floor and cooks too. And plays with the fridge magnet toys.
you just have to get creative.