When Two Feels Like One Thousand

I have a friend who once told me when I was expecting Baby No. 2, “Going from one kid to two kids is like going from one kid to a thousand kids.” I thought he was just being a drama queen—but turns out, he was spot on!

The cleaning? Oh, that's a never-ending saga. My husband is like a human Roomba, perpetually zooming from room to room, battling the clutter. Not exactly paradise for him, especially with two lively kiddos leaving a trail of toys in every corner of the house.

And let's not forget—he's the prime suspect for why there are so many toys here in the first place. But that's a tale for another day!

So, we've got the toy explosion zone. We've got the sibling soap opera and each kid's solo drama series. The 5-year-old is on a mission to rewrite the rulebook daily. Meanwhile, the baby thinks it's a riot to tackle his sister and give her hair a good yank. He's got a selective hearing problem when it comes to the word "No." Oh, and he's got a mean right hook. I've said "gentle hands" so much that I'm starting to think he believes hitting is some kind of gentle hand massage.

It's also the delightful differences between each kid that keep us on our toes! We foolishly assumed the kids might be similar. Oh, the laughter from my fellow parent friends when I share this naive thought! The differences aren't just in their little personalities. Oh no, it's things like the butt paste! I went through 4 different brands for Baby No. 2 (seriously, where did this kid come from?!) before finding one that actually did the trick. Different bubble bath soap, different routines, different Mom strategies. Just different, and they constantly make me feel like a rookie mom instead of a seasoned Round 2 Mom!

And the ultimate compliment and occasional endurance test: kids sticking to Mommy like glue! I used to flaunt my multitasking skills (before kids) like a badge of honor, only now to realize it was just because I had a rare moment to actually think. My kids worship me with a devotion that makes me feel like I could scale Everest in a single bound! But then there are those days when I'm attempting to whip up dinner, and the baby decides he's a koala, leaving me to channel my inner octopus just to stir the food in the skillet. And, of course, he won't let Dad hold him.

As for my husband, well, after 14 years together, I'm still not convinced he can boil water, and I need him to steer clear of the kitchen—though that's a post for another time! This leaves me in charge of the meals. But, since the husband can't handle clutter, this also includes dishes. So, he's in charge of kitchen clean up. Not too shabby to walk into the kitchen after nighttime baths and bedtimes to a sparkling clean space. It's part of what keeps my sanity from running off the rails.

I tip my hat to anyone navigating the wild ride of parenthood. I thought I was tired with one kid, then the second arrived, and now I'm just grateful if I manage to brush my teeth before collapsing into bed. I can't even fathom all the families with more than two kids.

We must be rockstars, both Moms and Dads.

--Amber