I really am in love with being a mom of two. Eight months out, I like, or, I’m used to, breaking up “sibling” fights over half eaten crackers and managing butt wiping and breastfeeding. I like that they have each other. I like that they are close in age but yet still in their own development moments that allow me to enjoy two overlapping worlds of babbling baby and “speaking” toddler.
I’ve gotten used to this life as a mom of two, the fullness of it, so well that when I have just one of my girls, it feels strange.
When I have just one, like I did for varying moments this weekend, I always feel like I have so much more time, which is a good thing, but very strange when you’re so used to having so little time.
When I really did have just one it was my keys. I would always forget my keys on the top of my car. And while usually, the bike rack would prevent them from sliding off onto the road, one time it didn’t. One time, I had to explain to my husband why I, with a baby, had to pull over on a freeway to get my keys from the road.
Now, it’s not keys but a human being that I feel like I’m forgetting when I have only one.
When I have just one, I do a lot of my writing for here, Baby Gizmo, and other places. I can hear my breath more easily. I am more laxed on my household chores. I can see them more easily as individuals who while enjoying this group ride also need me alone, sometimes.
Sometimes it’s nice to be a mom of one and to have the thought that there’s another one who will soon be coming back into the picture to make our picture complete. Sometimes, it’s nice to try to remember what you were complaining about back then and why it seemed so hard then.
Sometimes it’s nice to remember to be thankful of how far you’ve come in your motherhood journey and of the beautiful smiles, boos boos and tears along the way.
Sometimes it’s nice to really have two beautiful girls and get a reprieve with just one.
Can you relate? Do you find that having just one child feels so much easier than having two but that having all of your children feels most complete because that’s your new, loved life?
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And, the winner of my $25 gift certificate Hazelaid giveaway is Laura, who left this comment:
Congratulations! I’ll be emailing today with details on how to claim your reward! And thank you all who entered my giveaway! This was the last giveaway in honor of my blog’s birthday, but more will be coming soon!
About Jessica Jessica (@jessicafhinton)
Jessica F. Hinton is a writer, blogger, and hobbyist photographer living in the DC metropolitan area with her husband and two children. Her writings have appeared in various places on- and off-line, such as The Huffington Post, Babble, BlogHer, The African American Review, Early Mama, Tots 2 Tweens, and Baltimore's Child. She is a senior editor at Baby Gizmo and writes unedited at her other blog, http://shortlittlebits.com.
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
I can absolutely relate because I do only have one a couple of hours a day (thank you in-laws!) so I know the breathing space you speak of when you have just one. Especially when he’s a newborn
Yes! I felt guilty after hitting publish on this for a second but quickly got over that. It’s nice and important to have one on one time with each of them. It’s good for them and for us as parents!
this is a total glimpse into my very near future. i keep wondering what it will be like. a bit nervous about the transition.
It will be wonderful, but at first it will seem very hard. When you have two little ones, you become a different kind of new mom. You love them both and can still be present for them both, but it’s hard to see them both as individuals with their own unique needs when you have them both together all of the time. So, in this way, breaks are nice and important. You’ll do fine! Trust me! And you’ll love your new life more than your old one!
I often wonder what life would be like with two Pookahs running around!
CRAZY! Enjoy the 1 for now. Trust me
lol. It will be crazy, then wonderful! I echo what Veronica said. Enjoy just the one for now. When you’re ready for another, then go from there!
Can *I* relate?!?! Can I ever. I had no idea how hard having two kids so close in age would be. It is truly an ass kicker. Then I see the chicks with one kid and they say crazy things to me like oh are you coming to the storytime at 10 am across town. Um ARE YOU suiting up and getting out with two toddlers alone?@?!?! ARE YOU! Oh? NO!
anyway.
Yes I relate. A break and time to focus on just one of them is nice sometimes : )
lol. I know! It’s funny, but until you’ve crossed over to having two little ones, you can’t really get the struggles that come just by adding another little one in the mix.
Oh I can so relate. I rarely have the chance to be with just one of my kids, but when it happens it feels so different. Good different, in that our focus is just on each other. But bad different because I feel incomplete without the rest of the kids with me.
Exactly! I’m glad I’m not the only mom who feels like this!
I am a mom of one, and I’ve always wondered what it would be like to have another kid. If and when that happens, I’ll just roll with the punches and enjoy every minute of it
Yes! And that’s really all you can do! It’s hard to imagine what life will be like beforehand, but when the second comes, it’s like things just “click,” with time.
Yes, I know exactly what you’re talking about. I try to have special one-on-one times with only one child at a time. Or sometimes, my husband takes a couple of the kids somewhere, and I’m left with two…things are a LOT quieter with half the kids gone
Oh, I know! It’s so much quieter and I have so much more free time…to sit around and read and watch trashy TV. lol. It’s amazing how that works out, because when I have them both, I always think about all the “important” things that I can do with just one. But when I have just one, it’s really my break time to just relax and enjoy not being so busy.