Surviving Two Under Two: What No One Tells You

You know what’s cute? Matching pajamas.

You know what’s not cute?

Trying to get a toddler to put them on while your newborn is screaming because they just discovered hunger exists.

Welcome to life with two under two. This is the blog I wish I had before I lost my damn mind.

1. Sleep isn’t real...... People will tell you, “Sleep when the baby sleeps!” … okay, but who’s watching the toddler? Who’s refilling their sippy cup for the 9th time that morning? At some point you just embrace being powered by coffee, goldfish crackers, and the adrenaline of not knowing if today will be chaos or super chaos.

2. Your house becomes a war zone. Forget Pinterest. Forget “aesthetic toy storage.” Two under two means block towers in the fridge and diapers in the bathtub. You’ll look around and wonder if an unmedicated raccoon broke in overnight. Spoiler: it was your toddler.

3. Mom guilt doubles, too. You’ll cry because you feel guilty the toddler isn’t getting as much attention. You’ll cry because you feel guilty the baby isn’t getting as much attention. You’ll cry because Bluey is raising both of them while you hide in the pantry with a Diet Dr. Pepper. It’s fine. It’s normal.

4. But… so does the love. Here’s the part no one told me: watching your toddler meet your baby for the first time?

Game over.

When they hold hands, or when the big one kisses the little one’s head… you forget how tired you are, how messy your house is, how behind you are on laundry. The chaos is loud, but the love is louder.

5. Take the damn pictures. This is my PSA as a photographer and a mom: don’t wait until “life slows down” (it won’t). Get in the photos. Book the session. Capture the messy, sticky, chaotic magic of this season. Because one day you’ll blink and the toddler will be in kindergarten, and that “baby” will be climbing on the couch.

So, yeah. Two under two will break you a little. But it will also remake you into someone stronger, softer, and (let’s be honest) funnier. Here’s to surviving it — with love, with grit, and hopefully with a few good photos to prove you did.

-LS-