Overwhelmed

BeachBabe22 · March 2014

My daughter is almost 18 months and is a handful. She never sits still and is always on the go. I am fine with that and keep up with her during the day and make sure she has a lot of toys and books to play with and we also do a lot of activities outside of the house. I'm pretty sure she hit her terrible twos early and she has temper tantrums when she doesn't get her way. She is terrible at napping and I know that is mostly my fault since I always let her nap on me as a baby and then moved her to my bed for naps.

We want more kids but every time I think we are ready and can handle it something else happens and I feel completely overwhelmed. I feel like we will never be ready for another one anytime soon because I cannot imagine handling a newborn and a toddler. How do you know that you are ready for more kids? Is it something that I will be 100% certain about?

Jackiemxoxo · March 2014

I don't know how to answer your last question but I think once you get the napping situation under control, it will be a different story. DD is a totally different baby when she is sleep deprived. Once I got her napping on a schedule, she is much happier and easier to handle.

jnnfrrose6 · March 2014

As PP said, it's different for every family. We knew we wanted at least 2 kids (3 is still being discussed) and while I wanted them close together, we also didn't want to get ourselves into something we couldn't handle. DH and I have conversations about our family regularly. Not necessarily sit down at the kitchen table type of conversations, but we'd touch base with each other on how we were feeling about our family and if/when we thought we'd be ready to TFAS. We got extremely lucky with DS. He's a great kid who's super easy which certainly made our decision easier. DH is convinced the next one will be coming out with horns and a tail, but that's also why it's an ongoing conversation as who knows where we will be in a year or two or more.

If my first was how it sounds like yours is, I'm sure I'd be second guessing it too and wanting to hold off until I felt like I had a better handle on everything. Naps definitely seem like a good place to start, though.

ashiscute · March 2014

Ditto PP getting naps under control. To me having your LO on a schedule makes everything easier. If they are napping at the same time, for roughly the same length of time, in the same place every day they are much happier than if things are all over the place and inconsistent.

My kids are 19.5 mos apart. Sure it was hard at the beginning but I can't imagine a situation where it wouldn't be. Every stage is a struggle in a different way. Your LO sounds like a typical 18 mo to me. It can be very difficult but in some ways its easier than when they get to be 3 and they cannot be distracted or redirected so easily.

I think no matter how ready you are for your second you will still feel overwhelmed at times. Being a mommy is an overwhelming job! Good luck.

BLPL101 · March 2014

I feel the same way. DD is 14 months and we are thinking about TTC in June. I am kinda terrified and think maybe I'm crazy and should wait.

Tapthathank · March 2014

I feel the same way as you. DS is starting be challenging with diaper changes, getting dressed/undressed...doing things on his timetable, etc, etc! Typical toddler! I need to pick back up where I left off in the Happiest Toddler on the Block. Originally we were going to wait to TTC until August when DS turns 2, but DH is all "why wait, let's do this now!!" So we compromised with starting TTC in June. I know that I will probably be overwhelmed at times during the pregnancy and after #1 arrives, but I don't think there is a "right" time to do it.

Sometimes, you just gotta take the plunge!

emberlee3 · March 2014

I wasn't ready when DS was 18 months. By the time he was 2, I felt ready. He was almost 3 when DD was born. The spacing is great. DS is a good helper with his little sister.

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