I thought I would be able to handle the terrible twos easily. I thought both of my twins would handle the them the same way and would even learn from each other. How wrong I was! I often find myself at the end of my rope by bedtime. There are many days when I am so frustrated that I wonder where I went wrong. After having a conversation with our pediatrician, I was shocked to find out that my twins’ bad behaviors are actually normal! This is how I am working through the terrible twos (with twins!).
Pick Your Battles
I often find myself quickly answering the question of, “will this matter a year from now?” to decide what battles are worth fighting. If one of my toddlers grabs a knife from the open dishwasher as it’s being unloaded, which is something that will matter a year from now, then I’ll pick that battle. I will stop what I am doing and tell them the knife isn’t a toy. If they don’t want to wear the pink socks I picked out but want the blue ones instead? I let it slide. That’s not worth the argument.
Observe
In my experience, two-year-old kids get into EVERYTHING. I honestly feel like I have childproofed more things now, at age two, than I did when they first became mobile! Cabinets and drawers that I thought were mundane and otherwise uninteresting have become fair game. In addition, it seems like my twins are in cahoots with each other! Whereas one may be struggling with a latch, the other one will almost certainly figure out the puzzle. Then they can both undo the latch. Will it ever end?!
Be Empathetic
My biggest takeaway from all of this is that I need to be empathetic! I’ve learned that my toddlers are LEARNING. They are seeing everything through fresh eyes. They don’t know that the stove is hot or that the knife is sharp. As a parent, it is my job to teach them right from wrong. I often have to remind myself that they are only two and they don’t know that what they are doing is wrong.
Enjoy the Time!
I would be lying if I told you that there are no moments in which I feel completely defeated. At the same time, I would be lying if I said I don’t enjoy the time I have with my twins! My heart absolutely melts when they both climb into my lap and give me kisses. This is what makes motherhood completely worth it.
The Terrible Twos are a Learning Experience
If I have learned anything from this season, it’s that the terrible twos are a learning experience. That’s not only true for me, but also for my twins! They are learning how to navigate life through their newfound independence. A year ago, they certainly were not as mobile, and now we can even somewhat understand what they are saying! As they learn how to express themselves more and more, I’m sure that we will be frustrated with each other less and less. I am absolutely looking forward to it!
