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Multiples
Huge fail and I wanted to cry...still do.
I was so excited things worked out where Emerson could be in gym and I could do the mommy and me class with the babies at the same time.
Huge fail. Babies ran opposite directions and into other classes of kids and wanted the other moms to help them and not me. It was horrible. I finally had to just give up 20 minutes into the class. I physically couldn't do it. I was sweating profusely and they were starting to cry when I tried to keep them in the area that we were in.
As I was walking out all the mom's are saying, "we will all help you" and "your hands are sure full."
There is a spot upstairs where the parents can watch the kids through glass. I saw them all laughing as I tried to get the babies to participate.
I wanted to cry and still do but, I've decided that I will take them next week. My goal is to last a little longer than we did this week. Maybe by the end of the summer we'll be able to stay for the whole class.
Any words of wisdom from you ladies that have done a class with your babies? I am just so bummed that nothing can be easy and enjoyable.
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Re: Huge fail and I wanted to cry...still do.
Ugh, that really stinks, but I think your attitude of going back next week is great. Some mom's would give up completely.
I don't have any advice, but I know how you're feeling. I took the LOs to a new playdate and was really excited about it and meeting the other mom's. I got there, and the house wasn't completely babyproofed or gated, and the backyard was big and opened up right into the house. Piper went in one direction back into the house, and Fletch in the other into the depths of the yard. While all the other mom's were chatting and eating and having a great time, I was running in every direction. I seriously had sweat dripping down my face. I eventually had to call DH to come, so I was the mom at playdate with her DH there to help get the kids b/c I couldn't do it on my own. I was so embarrassed. I haven't attempted another playdate since then.
*hugs* You are a braver woman than I, because I don't even dare to attempt something like that solo. Every week I think about going to storytime at the library and then I always chicken out because I know it's not an enclosed area and it would just be mass chaos.
Wow, what a crappy thing to do - laughing at you in the midst of what was clearly a stressful moment.
Good for you for wanting to keep trying - they'll get used to it and pretty soon it won't be such a struggle.
Hey, at least you got a workout in though
aww, bravo to you for trying, and even better for planning to go back! it's a learning experience for everyone, including the kids.
(says the person who never took her kids to a class...)
and kudos to you for not flipping off the moms who were watching and laughing. grrrr!
How to tell my boys apart
The different types of twins and triplets
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I am sorry you had such a difficult time. It can be disappointing when you see mothers of singletons enjoying time with their children while you are spreading yourself thin trying to cover two yourself. I get it.
My words of wisdom are stick with it and don't give up. We started Little Gym when the kids were 16 or 17 months. It was as you described. I basically let them do their own thing and then tried to take turns participating with one at a time. I was running around like a foold. We also have a nanny who takes them. It took maybe 4 or 5 months but they have it down now. My son now sits in circle time and follows the teacher and knows what activities are coming next. It takes a while for them to learn how to participate in organized activities and it takes time for you to learn how to balance them. You will learn and they will grow. Also the teacher some times takes one of mine which is a life saver. Hang in there - it will get better.
I'm so sorry. I had a similar experience yesterday trying to take both girls to the Dr without a stroller - total fail.
Do you know any 9 to 12 year olds you could pay a few dollars to go with you next time and help? Kids that age are good helpers if you are there and cheap
I remember my pedi saying 18-24m is often the toughest age with twins and I think she had a point (I'm finding 3 tougher in other ways, though it's logistically much easier). They're old enough to get into things but not old enough to have fears/understand danger yet and not yet great at listening! So hang in there!
Thanks ladies. I can't quit. If we last five minutes longer next time, we will have done better. : )
I think it will get easier the more you go and the older the twins get. We went to the Little Gym last year and I didnt like taking them myself. But this year we are in gymboree and I take the girls myself most weeks. It is enclosed so I know they wont run off anywhere. And if they need my help with things, they are actually good about waiting their turn for me.
I have had a similar experience only it was at a library story time. To put it simply, I am surprised my kids faces aren't on posters at the front of the building to prevent us from being allowed back in. It was not pretty.
Anyway, I will say that they are slowly listening to me better and are getting a little easier to corral. Of course, now we are dealing with terrible twos and all that that means but I do think that things like this will hopefully continue to get easier.
Ugh. I feel you and you should go back and proud of yourself for doing it. Today I took the babies to baby gym for the second time. The other mothers look at me with horror on their face. I tell myself that even if we only last a few minutes,hey I tried.one of the employees helps me a little with onof the babies but I have no idea how I will manage when they are mobile.
I agree, good for you for going and good for you for going back.
My only advice would be to prep your kids with what to expect. Walk them through what will happen, where they need to stay, and what fun you'll have if they listen to your words. I'm a big fan of 'practicing' and telling kids what to expect.
Hang in there! Good for you for taking them.
I take mine to the Little Gym & Abby, who is 3 does her class 1st & then I take the boys (who are the same age as yours) to the next class & Abby has to sit and draw while I do the class with them.
They boys don't listen, they just run all over the place but it is safe enough for me to just let them & the instructor told me that at this age it is very typical. Sometimes they participate but most of the time they don't, and it is totally fine. I just let them run & enjoy the fact that they are so worn out they take a good nap that afternoon.
Let the other ladies laugh, they have no idea how fantastic it is to have multiples!
I've had great classes with the girls, and terrible ones. It just depends.
My only advice is to go to a class where the instructors are supportive that you have twins. The girls and I did a My Gym class from 20 months- 24 months.There were some days when one kid would be into it and the other wouldn't. I felt awful that I kept having to break away to grab the distracted kid and the one paying attention would suffer. So sometimes I'd let the other one run and play while I sat with the one who was engaged. The extra instructor would keep an eye on the unruly kid and eventually she might come back and join.
I liked the set up of the My Gym class b/c it's about a 8 min circle (structured time), free play and different stations that changed every time, and then at the end another 8 min or so circle. It was manageable for them. I'd tell them every time we went that we could go if they would listen at circle time.
The days that are disasters completely sucks though and are SO draining! I've been there!
Just wanted to give you a ray of hope to keep on going. I started taking my b/g twins to Gymboree class, playdates and weekly library storytime when they were about 18mths old. Most of the time I was running in different directions, sweating and cursing myself too. But I just kept going, I was going to be damned if I was going to sit home and miss out on these experiences.
Then, suddenly, like magic at just around their 2nd birthday they started to actually " get it" - they stayed by me, they most of the time don't run too far in different directions, and lo and behold I can even sometimes have a semi-conversation with other moms instead of chasing babies
The biggest " aha moment" for me was just CONSTANT repeating of the rules with the twins - all morning , on the way in the car, as we enter the building. Just OVER AND OVER repeating " no running, no crying, stay with mom"
Also, at the gymbo classes I didn't give a hoot and just let them do whatever they wanted, they rarelt participated in the actual " class activities" just liked to play and watch the other kids. That was fine with me, they still got a lot out of the classes and still ask to go back ( quit because it was getting to $$)
The hardest months for me were 20-22 months old as far as behavior in public was concerned - so you are almost over the hump!!!
Keep trying and don't let those stupid moms who laughed get you down - they were just jealous and wouldn't have what it takes to be a twin mom in a million years! ( That is what I tell myself when I get the side-eyes and looks from people as I have 2 toddlers melting down and dragging them out of the store etc... LOL!!! )
Good luck and go back!
I have no advice-just a little cheer Go! Go! Go! for all the MoMs out there who have been there, done that, and go back again (head held high) refusing to give up!
I am proud of you.
It was the difficult times I had with them that taught me the most about myself.