12 Real Struggles of Being a Mom to Multiples
When you become the mom or dad of twins, triplets, or any other set of multiples, you join an exclusive club of parents who have to learn certain things the hard way — and quickly. It's easy to just assume that having multiples is like having more than one kid, but there are unique struggles that you endure as mom of multiple little ones the same age that your other mom friends likely will never experience. From feeling like you draw attention wherever you go to fighting scary divorce statistics, these are 12 unique struggles that parents of multiples can relate to.
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You Feel Like There Should Be a “Wide Load” Warning Sign Attached to Your Stroller.
No matter where you go or how lightly you try to pack, you always feel like you're taking up way more room than a "singleton" family.
You're Constantly Fighting Comparisons
You're constantly trying not to compare their development (which is hard since they were born on the same day!) and not to compare yourself to moms who don't have multiples. You're also always trying to keep them from always feeling in competition with each other.
You Have to Have a Plan — at All Times
There's no such thing as a quick errand or spontaneous outing. From packing multiples of everything to purposefully picking locations with the widest aisles and the most space, there's a strategy behind everything you do.
You're Constantly Counting
Whenever you're out in public, you can't help but continuously count to make sure that you have everyone and nobody's gotten left behind.
There's a Different Standard For Family Photos
It doesn't matter if everyone is moving around with their eyes closed — family snapshots are considered perfect if you can at least manage to get everyone in it!
Your Home Starts to Feel Like It's Closing In on You
Your home quickly becomes overflowing with multiples of every item — not just kids — and products that are sold in packs of two or three become your worst nightmare, depending on how many little ones you're shopping for.
They Share Everything — Only When You Don't Want Them To
From public meltdowns and sleepless nights to back-to-back illnesses, sometimes you wish they wouldn't share quite as much.
You Have to Find Their Individuality — and Ensure That Others Maintain It
Even when you try to be conscious not to only refer to your kiddos as a single unit, it can be equally hard to get people to see them individually and understand that they have different personalities and interests.
You’re Always Fighting the Statistics
Being a parent to multiples can feel like an uphill battle when immediately confronted with statistics of couples being more likely to get divorced and having unique financial struggles.
You Have to Tell Everything (and Everyone!) Apart
From calling each person the right name (so what if you call your husband the dog's name every once in a while?) to knowing what artwork and clothing belongs to which second grader, it can feel beyond difficult to identify everything and everyone correctly when you're dealing with more than one tiny human who is the same age.
You Live Life by One-Handed Multitasking
You have to become a one-handed pro and quickly get good at feeding, changing diapers, and swapping onesies with only one hand while also cradling an upset little one in the other.
You Draw Attention Wherever You Go
Whether you're accidentally knocking into something with your large stroller or answering endless questions about if your kids are twins or triplets and how they were conceived, it always feels like people are looking whenever you go out.