Taming Toddlers

Ok the scenario, it’s your day off and doesn’t really count  because although you work part-time at the office you also have to manage your home.  Really you work full-time and always do overtime as well. The rest is unpaid work .  But one must not complain.  No amount of money can pay for the rewards.  Then that day mother hubbard went to the cupboard and the cupboard wasbare.   Must really need to do the groceries.  But twin toddlers in tow on your own, is like wrestling two piglets in a mud.  You all get dirty but only the piglets are happy. Your hubby has to do double shift to get more dough to pay for bills, buy nappies, milk etc. you know the drill.  Besides waiting for him to help you or leave the kids with him is not really a good option.  Unless you want the kids to starve or push your hubby to the edge. Minding two toddlers with no sleep and after a stressful day at work have turn many strong men into tearful wimps.  So you have to have a plan before you embark on this grocery shopping  mission:

* Get up at least 1 to 2 hours before the little terrors do.

* Have a shower, so you’ll be fresh and it will clear your mind.

* Get change and ready to get out..”you will feel good if you look good”

* Have a good breakfast so you’ll have energy and can think straight.  Then you will be ready for those little ones.

* While waiting for them to get up, get thier breakfast and clothes ready, be a step ahead of them.

* As soon as they get up, drop them both in the bath together preferably gently and take off thier clothes and nappies first.

* While you are bathing them, make it fun and entice them you are taking them to an adventure; and if they ask "where?"  Say it’s a surprise and they better be good and they might get a treat.

* Now get them to the car all happy, content excited and while thier music “the purple people eater” is blaring while you’re driving; you might as well singalong ; preferably without action as you have to have both hands on the steering wheel.

* Navigating the shopping mall will be tricky. While you stop and have a capppuccino and ponder how to proceed with the mission,you also order two babbyccinos. You warn them that they will turn purple if they pour the babyccinos at each other and the purple people eater will come and we all know what they do to purple children.  Then you can enjoy your cuppa.

* Then it willcome to you so simple.  The caffeine will really help you to think and concentrate.

* Tie two shopping trolleys together.  the one nearest to you is for storing the babies and the one in front, for the groceries. While you might think you already won; it’s not over yet.

* Next how to keep them in the trolley without fighting and without clambering over the trolley ’cause they would want to push it.  A promise of a new barbie doll or borrow some toys from the supermarket and just throw it into the trolley.  They might dismantle it but nobody cares really.  Ohh don’t forget to return it before you proceed to the check-out.

* Got the shopping done, off to the car to unload them all; babies or groceries first?  It doesn’t matter, just get them in the car and quick.

* When you pull in your driveway, they will be asleep I assure you. Just transfer them to their cots/beds and then you are victorious with your mission.

*After you put away the groceries they will still be asleep and you can put your feet up and can even catch up with OPRAH.

*Then your hubby walks in expecting drama or worse but peace and quiet.  You just meet him with a kiss and ask "how was your day dear"?You make him coffee or hand him an ice cold beer.  If he’s got some energy left you can have some quick loving.

*He checked, house clean, grocery done, you are looking hot to him (all those running around will get you flustered) calm and collected and he will ask “how did you do it?”   You just shrug it off and reply “it's not rocket science really. ”  While you spend some time together before the next launch attack,  you think 2 years down more to go

What I itemized above is just what works for me.  Everybody have a different approach to things and every parent and child are different.

To all young parents out there, I can assure you the rewards outweighs any hiccups with parenting.  "AND YOU WOULDN’T SWAP IT FOR ANYTHING ELSE."