Sanity Saving Tips

I've started reading Elizabeth Lyons' book "Ready or Not...There We Go" and she has lots of good little tips about retaining sanity with twin toddlers. I thought it might be interesting to see what tips the TSer's have to offer.

Here's one of mine...Elmo's World is a great way to get a 30-minute break when you're about 2 seconds away from pulling all your hair out!

Who else has some?

 

I've started reading Elizabeth Lyons' book "Ready or Not...There We Go" and she has lots of good little tips about retaining sanity with twin toddlers. I thought it might be interesting to see what tips the TSer's have to offer.

Here's one of mine...Elmo's World is a great way to get a 30-minute break when you're about 2 seconds away from pulling all your hair out!

Who else has some?

 

Give choices! Mine always seem alot happier when they are given a choice between two things vs. just being handed one or being dressed in a certain thing.

 

Alcohol...lots of it...

only kidding. Date night with dh and girls night outs. They refresh me when I'm feeling like I have no more patience left. It's amazing what a few hours to myself can do.

 

just wanted to see if she mentions Holly with the triplets in the book this time aroudn. She was in the first one and is a friend of mine. it was funny to read the first one and know it was her...

 

there are morning i'm am just not functioning early and i need to literally sit on the couch with coffee... those morning we do "picnic breakfast" it's messy, but they love it. they eat toaster waffles, dry cereal, muffins (and occasionally i allow donuts) and they jsut walk around eating breakfast on the go. they love it and i just sit for 30 minutes on the couch, watch some news and drink my coffee.

 

quote:
Originally posted by stinabina:
there are morning i'm am just not functioning early and i need to literally sit on the couch with coffee... those morning we do "picnic breakfast" it's messy, but they love it. they eat toaster waffles, dry cereal, muffins (and occasionally i allow donuts) and they jsut walk around eating breakfast on the go. they love it and i just sit for 30 minutes on the couch, watch some news and drink my coffee.


That happens at least once a week in my house!

 

I second the tv tip!

Also, while they have their whole toy box of random toys that they can access anytime, I have some "special" toys on the high shelf in their closet that I only take out when they are truly having a meltdown/cabin fever/trouble sharing/whatever. These toys seem new every time and distract them from their whininess. Also, I am still slowly rationing out the new books and toys from Christmas- we still have a few books that I haven't busted out yet!

Aubrey- I love your avatar! You have a great looking family!

 

I bring out a few pots and pans (along with spoons and stuff), put a little water in them, then put them in the kitchen on a towel and viola...20 minutes to get something done.

My other trick is similar..one day I had a box of pasta and I gave them some to play with along with spoons, pots, bowls, etc. My girls love filling things up and transferring to something else. And I read that this is actually beginning math so it's a win-win - some time for myself while they learn.

 

I second Melissa's tip on giving choices!

My other suggestion would be to have something for them to do during dinner preparation. Mine were starting to want to be held and very whiney during the dinner preparation hour, so I got them each their own stool and let them stand next to me and "help." I always keep this in mind when I am planning meals- so they can help. It has truly changed our dinner hour for the GOOD!

For working moms- I always pack the diaper bag and my lunch the night before, so I only have to worry about getting me ready and they kids to the car in the morning. (They do breakfast at grandma's house...)

 

and the BIG one would be ..... DONT HAVE KIDS.

 

quote:
Originally posted by team_double.trouble:
and the BIG one would be ..... DONT HAVE KIDS.


Hmmm.. that's pretty immature and not really positively contributing to this thread if you ask me. I am sure there are many that would disagree, as they tried long and hard to concieve their children and would take the craziness and non-sanity moments any day.

 

quote:
Originally posted by NicoleT:
Hmmm.. that's pretty immature and not really positively contributing to this thread if you ask me. I am sure there are many that would disagree, as they tried long and hard to concieve their children and would take the craziness and non-sanity moments any day.


oh sorry, i really didnt mean it that way, i was kidding and thought people would take it as a joke, I guess not....
Of coarse I would rather be a crazy, pulling my hair out, staying up all nght with sick tots mummy!