How do you do it?

Moozilla11

I wont have much time in the 2u2 category but I never realized how difficult it would be. My DD is in the extreme tantrum phase. You so much as blink at the wrong time and she will throw herself to the ground and start kicking and screaming. I even plan special outings with just me and her and when we are doing what ever she will still do the tantrum. 

How do you not lose your mind and stay so strong ladies? As soon as one is done crying the other starts up. There naps are opposite of each other so the place is never quiet.

I need some words of wisdom. 

WhitePicketFence

I just do the best I can. My DD1 is the same age as your DD. Some days are really hard while others aren't difficult at all. I try to have DD1 help out as much as possible - she'll bring me diapers, burp rags, and toys for DD2. She loves to help and the sense of importance that it gives her tends to quiet the tantrums for a short while.

We've also instituted time outs. She already knows that a tantrum equals a time out. Most of the time, the threat of one is enough to do the job.

There are certainly days where I feel like I'm at the end of my rope. I just count down the hours to bedtime on those days and then pour myself a big glass of wine

Hang in there! It WILL get easier!

SirSleepsALot

Sometimes I DO lose it.  Then I forgive myself, apologize to the kids and we move on.  You're human.  Do your best and love your kids and you'll all be ok.

Moozilla11

Thanks ladies Everyone here makes it seem so easy.

12bailey18

There are days where I DO lose my mind and I don't feel so strong. My DH is military and gone a lot so I'm a single mom much of the week. Some days (and evenings) are very hard. Both kids crying, me crying, and I'm counting down until bedtime...LOL. When times get really hard I have to accept that there may be a time where one or both are upset. It seems silly but once I accepted that, it made things easier. I used to not be able to handle one crying while I tended to the other one. I had to accept that I cannot make them both happy all day, everday. I had to take that pressure off of me and it's helped a lot.

 Also, the best thing another mom told me when I asked how she did it. She told me you have no choice BUT to do it. Seriously, what's the alternative? There isn't one. You just do what you have to do. That's the best advice I've gotten. Simple but so true.

kagl08

SirSleepsALot:

Sometimes I DO lose it.  Then I forgive myself, apologize to the kids and we move on.  You're human.  Do your best and love your kids and you'll all be ok.

This... It's fun and rewarding to have kids this close in age, but it's certainly not easy! Lately it's been getting a little harder rather than easier. As my DD gets older her temper tantrums gets more frequent. Unfortunately I still think my DD is too young for timeouts.

sweetpea2003

Oh, I think all of us do lose it occasionally. My husband just returned from a 7 month deployment and there were some tough times. You aren't alone.

My practical advice would be to sync up their naps. When DS was napping 2x per day he was going down at aroun 9 and then at 1. I put my DD down for her nap with him at 1. Now they both have 1 nap and go down at about 12:30. I worked hard to make this happen so I would have some time to myself.  Everyday between approx 12:30 and 2:30 I can rest, clean, do projects, read,etc. it is a sanity saver.