The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly About Parenting Multiples…

By: Holly Cider When Two Became Four

When some people see me and my husband in public with the girls in their strollers or shopping carts, diaper bag filled with enough stuff to backpack across Europe for a summer, and the look of “let’s get what we need and get out” on my face, the common look or remark from other women is “How do you do it?”

I could give a very sweet and put-together reply of, “Oh, it’s totally no big deal! I love it!” and make it look effortless. However, the usual reply is, “Honestly, I’m not sure if I am doing ‘it’.”

If you are reading this as an expectant first time mother, whether you are expecting 1 or 10 babies, and no one has told you this before, allow me to share with you a secret:

Does it get easier? Yes? No? Maybe?

The big question: Does raising multiples ever get easier? Yes? No? Maybe?

Heather M. “My twins are 22 months and I think it has gotten a lot easier.”

Heather W. “It’s gotten easier for me. The first 6 months in my opinion was the hardest … Now it’s easy breezy with a few storms”

Farrah R. “Mine are 17 mos and it has gotten much easier but different since they are toddlers now and I know how that goes, I have a 3 yo so am prepared! As long as they sleep- in my mind it’s easier.”

Mary G. “My twins are going to be 2 in april, I think it’s when they start finding their own personalities, and going into the “terrible 2’s” and potty training, and not sleeping in their cribs anymore but toddler beds..that the real “stress” of having 2 kids at the exact same stage really hits you and it feels really difficult at times to juggle their emotions as well as your own.”

Melody B. “My twin boys will be 3 on Saturday and it absolutely is getting easier!!!! I’m so happy to have made it to their 3rd Birthday still married to my husband and still sane…LOL”

Karen P. “Mine turned 4 in January – it gets DIFFERENT. Each stage brings forth ease and more difficulties. Nothing is easy about parenting, especially multiples.”

Sarah L. “I have 23mo old twins, and while we’ve hit a difficult patch I’m sure it’s just a phase. It’s all about perspective and I’m sure tomorrow will be a better day!”

Jillian M. “There are pro’s and con’s at each age, everyone always tells me it gets better as they get older. I find it’s just different but the way I feel about parenting changes for the better.”