I am admitting it...

Up to very recently, when stangers asked me how on earth do I cope with twins, I jsut smiled and said, they are good babies, they don't give me too much trouble. Which is the truth, BUT it is also true that 2 babies are much harder work than one (believe me, I have done one, and now two!). I just didn't feel like admitting that yes, I am worked half to death, having a toddler, and twins, and a job in a different city to the one I am actually living in, plus a largely absent daddy. It is NO joke. Now, I started saying, you know, it is hard work. Sometimes it is thankless, and often it is wonderful, but I am always exhausted at night. And yes I cope, because I have to, and I want to, but it takes its toll. I wouldn't want it any other way, I love my kids, but one day when I die, I am going to that special place in heaven for moms of multiples. So enjoy having one at a time to kiss, and cuddle, and bath, and get up for, because it is lovely to have all one's attention for just one kid. But me, I am getting 2 kisses, and 2 cuddles, and 2 lovely little warm bodies and 2 angel smiles (actually 3 of course, but for the sake of the argument!) and it is really worth the effort!

(A small vent for a Tuesday!)

I can only take my hat off for you.

I take my hat off to you because I am sure it is flipping hard work.

No shame in admitting that either.

Lots of strength and

Hi Paula - I concur! It is very very hard work! I'm exhausted by the end of the weekend and often come Monday morning I feel like I'm going back to work for a rest!!

Often - after a particularly tiring day I'll go into their room when they're fast asleep and look at them and think "Wow - I made this - I wouldn't change it for anything!"

Oh Paula

SOmetimes when I am so tired and they are both screaming at me cause they are tired too I think about having only one then I can't decide who I would choose which makes me love them all over again.

I met a twin mom who said after three it gets much better. I have also just recently run into mom's with triplets which makes me thankfull that I only have two.

Hi

Paulae thank you for your post. My twins are only 4.5 weeks old and I have no idea how other twin mommies cope when they have no help. Just today I burst out in tears because both my girls were crying and I just couldn't make them stop and I only have two hands. I feel so bad for not being able to pick up both at the same time. I am sure as they get older it gets easier but I seriously felt so overwhelmed today. I knew a baby or babies would be hard work but I didn't quite imagine it to be this hard. But I am extremely grateful for my girls and that I have the privilege of raising them.
I know one baby would have been easier but I love my girls to death. I feel blessed with two healthy babies but it's hard work and it's ok to admit it. So thank you again for your post.

Luv
Zellie

ohhhh i wish i could hug all of you!! (sorry im not a twin mommy, hope its okay) but i take my hat of for you girls!! i admire you, and paula i have only one toddler and one baby and its damn hard work!!!!!! im alone in the day but leon helps ALOT when he is home and for that im SO gratefull!! zellie it still happens to me when they both cry at the same time and i can't figure out whats wrong or how to let thim stop.then i also burst into tears, most of the time one is upstairs and the other one downstairs!! im running the stairs up and down!! (then why don't i loose weight).

be strong girls you are doing a fantastic job!!!! (one i think i wouldn't be able of doing)!!!

Ok you are freaking me out.....

dont be eve, yeah its hard work BUT ALL WORTH IT!!! ans somehow we all get through it!!

I'm so glad I'm not the only one that feels like that sometimes. Amazing what a good cry can achieve!

I don't have many mommy friends - have one with a 3 month old - and hate to say it, but I even used to get a bit jealous of her. She can just dote all her attention on that one child, feed her baby without listening to the other one cry etc... (sorry I have my moments)...I just find it very hard sometimes. I am so greatfull though to have our 2 absolutely precious girls and wouldn't want it any other way at all, we are very blessed, i just feel so overwhelmed sometimes.

I don't know how to respond when people ask me how its like to have twins, its hard work to have two babies at the same time, BUT my twinnies are sweet babies, they don't cry that often and are generally happy. Its heartbreaking when they cry at the same time because you don't know which one to attend to first, I just take a deep breath and remind myself that i only have two hands.
When i get home from work, i know that i will see those two chubby faces smiling at me, cannot imagine seeing one face, im used to two.

HI Lipa

nice to hear from you it has been a while. I missed you.

Eve get ready for it, don't kid yourself it is hard but there will be times that make up for the difficulties. And when they reach 5/6 months and start playing you will forgive all past hardships.

Zellie there are great nannies out there get one you won't look back. My boys love thier nanny and I have a little time. Even though most of the time I have one and she has one.

Kerry I also have thought about that (which one to choose) and then I think bothe, but one after the other!! Hehe!

Last night was a difficult one with Olivia being sick (only a cold but you would think she is dying, a real drama queen), but in the light of day everything looks better again.

Eve, kerry is right, the olde they get the better it is. It is actually a blessing that the hard bit is at the beginning because when you survive that bit it only gets better. For me it got a lot better when they started sitting because it is just physically easier coping with them, and I started bathing them together, and that also makes a huge difference! A friend with twins said that by 3.5 it is a breeze, they can eat and dress themselves and play together so in that respect even easier than a sinlge child.

Yes someone said to me thier first 3 years with thier girls was a blur but after that it was great. I agree Paula as soon as they could sit on their own things got easier.

I'll say it again and again, I don't know how you manage and I have the greatest respect and admiration for you all. It must be very tough but as you say, at least it gets easier and easier (until illness strikes of course).