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Home › Articles › Preparing for Baby › Two Under 2

Two Under 2

The Joys and Challenges of Children Close in Age

By Mark Stackpole

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Nothing changes your life quite like having a child. That something so small can have an impact so large takes some getting used to – priorities change, schedules become disrupted, finances tighten and a lack of sleep can lead to some emotionally trying times. Of course, bountiful rewards await those who make these sacrifices – a child's love is a gift unmatched by any we might purchase for ourselves.

What happens, then, when more than one child is running around the house in diapers? The families of twins and triplets deserve a special category all their own, but any family with "two (or more) under 2" will find itself in a similar situation. Babies can have a synergistic effect; if parents are not careful, they can end up feeling exhausted, panicked and even outnumbered.

Facing the Challenges
Dr. Shoshanna Bennett, a psychologist specializing in pregnancy and postpartum issues, is the author of Beyond the Blues: A Guide to Understanding and Treating Prenatal and Postpartum Depression (Mood Swings Press, 2003), and serves as the president of Postpartum Support International. "Every day, I meet with new and expectant parents who are wondering and worrying about their roles," Dr. Bennett says of her practice in Danville, Calif. "When someone says you are doubly blessed to have two children in diapers, you may be tempted to hand them over and say, 'Here you go! I'll pick them up in a few years.' It is utterly exhausting and exasperating to raise children close together, but the benefits are plenty – creativity and organization are the keys."


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