During R + M’s first year, we didn’t venture out of the house very often. I struggled with getting two kids in the car, assembling the bulky double stroller and schlepping around countless bottles/burp clothes/baby gear/etc. It was easier to stay at home and utilize the endless array of toys/contraptions/tv to keep the kids entertained. I feel guilty even admitting that to you. My family used to joke that taking the kids outside of our neighborhood probably felt like an international trip for them. But then again, none of them have twins.

I never took them to the grocery store. They never went to Target with me. Trips to the park were fewer and farther in between than friends with one baby. We stayed close to home because that made life easier. And I would have done anything to make life easier. We did take a mommy and me class and a music class. But I rarely went to them by myself, and someone always came to help.


One of the rare dual shopping trips we took in the first year

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Fast forward a year and things became a little easier. The feedings were easier. As they became more and more accustomed to table foods and we said ciao to bottles, their load lightened. Diapers were changed less often. They became more mobile, even walking. I didn’t need to have 2 changes of emergency outfits just in case. So I began to venture out more. And it was easier… but definitely not easy. Double carts are hard to come by, and it still takes time to get the giant stroller out and get them both in (and they barely ever want to go in the stroller anymore so sometimes we take a risk and walk, which means I need two hands free).

So for the last six months, Mr. C and I utilize the divide and conquer on the weekends. We divide the kids and we conquer our errands. This usually goes something like this:

I take R, our daughter, who is more amenable to shopping carts, shopping trips and longer breaks without food. Mr. C takes M, our son, who isn’t a big lover of grocery stores (unless you count his love of opening tissue boxes and taking out the kleenex one by one). Their “errands” usually involve watching golf and playing basketball outside. It’s a hard knock life for them.


Dividing + Conquering

It works out that I usually end up with more alone time with R. I feel guilty about the natural family division and about R’s inclination towards a love of shopping, but life is easier and more efficient this way.

If you have more than one child, do you divide and conquer? Do you worry that you spend more time with one child than another? I’m trying to ease up on my guilt and realize that the divide and conquer helps me “make it work.” (Thanks Tim Gunn!).