MoMs w/older multiples: Hardest stage?

MagPie08

What do you think the hardest stage has been w/your kiddos?

Lately, I feel more challenged than ever. DD & DS are both walking (but super wobbly/accident prone), pulling apart the house, fighting over toys, pulling hair, throwing temper tantrums when I say no, and I feel like I have to save their lives every 3 minutes. By naptime, the house looks like it's been hit by a tornado, there is Nutrigrain bar ground into the a$$ of my pants, & I'm ready to drop.

I should also mention that I'm winning the parental popularity contest right now and they both want to be sitting ON ME, held by me, rocked by me, tickled by me, playing with me, etc in solidarity, 24/7. Just a stage too, right?  

I'm sure a lot of it has to do w/being pregnant and tired, but I'm getting scared for #3 to get here when they're 18 mos old. I'm so tired. I need for somebody to tell me that this is a tough stage and it gets a lot easier when they are more stable and have better language skills. Please somebody tell me that. 

reillyroowho

I remember that being a very hard stage for me with a singleton so I am sure it is REALLY difficult with twins. Don't worry, it ebbs and flows with all stages.

macchiatto

It totally varies. For me the sleeplessness of the newborn stage was still the hardest, but it was also tough when they were newly mobile (able to get into things but not old enough to understand danger) and then again from 2.5 to the present with lots of attitude and tantrums.

jennie13

My hardest stage with the twins has to be the newborn stage (reflux, didn't nap, cried constantly) but I have a 3.5 year old, and the 12-18 month klutzy, clingy, difficult to communicate stage was really hard and it got much much easier when she got to 2 and older - more independent, not as worried about her smashing her head open from falling, doing stairs by herself, etc.    Now that my twins are 15 months, I'm remembering how hard this stage is too. 

I'm counting on it getter better with them, too!

togagirl

That first learning to walk stage is a challenge.  Once they get more sturdy you can relax a little.  Have you tried confining them to a smaller area?  This helped me keep my sanity because I could make it totally baby proof the whole house didn't get trashed.

UsedToBeGoldie

all around the most difficult stage -f or all 3 of my boys (singleton, not just twins) was about 12mo-20mo... b/c they are so mobile, but so wobbly and dangerous- still putting stuff in their mouths, etc.

We have had some ROUGH patches in the 2yo age so far, but it's usually just a couple days of really bad behavior- then it smooths out... but my singleton was a breeze at 2yo - and a total PITA at 3yo... so i'm praying the twins don't geto harder at 3yo, lol.

my singleton at 4yo is so much easier than 3yo.... so there is hope

2shihtzus

I want to tell you that 18 months is so much easier, I really really do but I am at 19 months old and I am really struggling right now, I'm not going to lie.  I feel like this age has a lot of highs and lows, they are either really awesome and so hilarious and cute or it really really sucks.  I cling to the hope in Goldie's statement that maybe in another month or so when they are 20 months old, things will start to get better.

I would just try to work with them on small words that you think will come in handy (more, drink, up, eat, etc.) because the whining is ridiculous and I feel like if my boys utlilized their words more, maybe some of that would be eliminated.  No matter what, you will get through it and we will be here to vent when you come on and tell us how insane 18 month old kids are.

amanda31H

My girls are 18 months next week and I really l love this age.

They've been walking for about 6 months by now, and they each say a ton of words.  I think they each have 30 plus words.  A even said her first sentence yesterday! 

I just think this age is so much fun.  I will say that I'm exhausted by the end of the day...but as we're moving through the day, we're so busy and they're so entertaining that I don't notice it as much.

Regarding the messiness for toys - my girls now can pick up their own toys!  I now make that part of our routine before their nap and before bed.  Yes, I still have to pick stuff up with them, but it feels much different than just me cleaning everything up. 

As far as snack messines- my mom used to have us eat on mats.  When my girls go to her house she has 2 special placemats (wicked cute alphabet ones that appeal to them) that they sit on for snack.  That way the mess is contained.  I just started doing it with them myself and it helps so much!  They know that they have to stay on their mat to eat their snack and they enjoy having that special place.

I hope that helps!

lisa&andy

I think all the stages are hard, the newborn stage at the time I thought that was so hard. Now I look at it and would take it hands down over the 2.5 y.o. tantrums and fighting. Once my kids got much steadier on their feet around 18 months, things got easier. There are definitely the days that I just want to lock myself in the bathroom, we have a couple bad days and then go 1-2 weeks of being great and then it starts back over. For me, I keep telling myself that this is all a stage and they will eventually grow out of it (I hope!)

MagPie08

Thanks ladies. There a few nuggets above that I'm clutching to right now.

Just a super exhausting weekend . . . and yes, I'm hoping the "getting sturdier" on the their feet will help a lot. Right now even a flat wall is a hazard. lol...

2brides

Mine are 5y - and while I thought the newborn/infant stage was insanely difficult since neither kid slept through the night till past 12m (and one not until 3.5y), I thought 12m-2.5y was really difficult. They were constantly going in 2 different directions, weren't able to follow directions for long periods of time, were into everything, and hated being in a stroller. It made going places alone a real challenge.

My 5y olds have their own set of challenges (being disrespectful, constantly wrestling, arguing about everything, etc) but it also much easier because they play together, can be left alone in the playroom while I do other things in the house (and I don't worry what they are getting into), they can reason with me, no strollers/diaper bags, and they have awesome conversations and it is so fun to see how their minds work.

keg

Yep, where you are was one of the hardest ages for me (maybe 12 months-18months-ish).  They are mobile but with no judgment so I felt like I had to watch them like a hawk all of the time.  I still had baby jail set up which helped (larger Superyard enclosure with foam mats on the floor) but whenever they were out it was really difficult. I found that 2 has been much better.  Sure we have tantrums and other ridiculousness, but I''m pretty much immune to screaming at this point. :-)   Not to say I'm not completely exhausted at the end of the day, but I also get "I love you Mommy" when I put them to bed which is nice.  :-)

 

pea-kay

I think that 13-24 months was particularly hard (still babies in a lot of ways, not great at communicating, easily frustrated) but 3 is no piece of cake either. But it's different. In a lot of ways it's easier (they're a lot more self-sufficient) but the boundary pushing and the whining and all that stuff is haaaard and exhausting.

DarthNBJenni

3 years is going to see me straight into the Betty Ford Center.