Juggling a Toddler and a Newborn

No one said this would be easy, and having two under two is anything but that. But as exhausting and busy and wild as it can be, it is the most beautiful experience I have ever had.

The number one thing I have learned along the way: give myself grace. This is our current season, it will not always be this way. So even though I write a blog on keeping the home tidy and how to accomplish this, I am also only human and as much as I strive to accomplish so much more with my days, there are times my baby needs to be held more, or I need to breast feed, or my toddler needs my attention, or someone’s butt needs to be changed. One day I will look back at all the madness and miss it.

In this current season, the beds are not always made, the kitchen is a mess with dishes piling up more than ever before. I have never seen our garbage or diaper genies so full. And yes, we have more than one diaper genie now. Laundry is a beast and continuous and there is no such thing as catching up on it. The TV is on way too often. And it is all okay. It is just fine to allow things to be set aside, to wait, to be done later. Because it will get done, eventually.

At the moment I am not able to follow our cleaning schedule, which at times kills me, but it is unrealistic to ensure some larger tasks are done every single week. Our bathrooms are lucky to be cleaned every other week, but again, that is okay. It is just for now.

We were so lucky to have my husband home for a whole month once our baby was born and we were able to divide and conquer taking care of both our newborn daughter and toddler son. But once he went back to work, it was back to ground zero and managing my time with taking care of both kids and the household, and it can be a lot.

Now each day gets a little easier with some wrench days thrown into the mix where emotions run high, especially from our toddler or when our daughter in cluster feeding. That is why being adaptable is so important. Adjust as you go. Surviving, not thriving is our current situation status. Schedules and routines will come about and will be altered as we go. I will figure out a system that works for our family, but in the meantime, who cares if the floors have gone a day without being vacuumed.

Thank goodness for frozen prepared meals, especially in the beginning days after bringing our baby home. We didn’t even have to think about cooking, just decided on which meal to reheat. Snacks have been key, for everyone in the family. Some snacks haven’t exactly been healthy but who really cares in this moment. Hydration has a whole new urgency to its meaning. Caffeine has a whole new appreciation.

While it all may have seemed impossible to tackle, it’s not. There are really hard times and really amazing times. Sleep deprivation is really, really hard, but baby smiles and toddler cuddles are all worth it. Give yourself the grace you deserve. At times, sure, it’s easier said than done, but on the days the productivity is just flowing, embrace it and enjoy it. The next day may not be the same and that is okay. It will all be okay. It will all be wonderful.

Melanie xoxox