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I started caring for 15 month old twins about 4 weeks ago. It is going okay but I was really unprepared for how much work it would be & to be honest I shorted myself in the price range a little although it is a fair amount of money each week as I am watching these twins about 46 hours a week. I was prepared for the dirty dipaers, cleaning up extra food off the floor & entertaining them a bit each day through stories/singing, etc. They nap fairly well 2x a day (about 2 1/2 hrs all together & sometimes closer to 3 total so that is good). What I was not prepared for was how clingy & easily irritated that could be. I did not expect this. I had cared for a child before in that age range who was so easy going. These kids though they are sweet & cute as buttons are VERY high maintenance. They have been in childcare since they were about 3 months old but I am their 3rd caregiver. So am I wrong to think it is not ME but rather that they are just extra-hard b/c they are fussy/clingy. I can barely leave the room without one of them running & crying after me. This is a temporary job that will end in about 4 1/2 weeks but I am wondering if I can last that long. If you have any advice to offer I would love to hear it. I want to finish the job but part of me is so worn out from trying to keep them happy & content. I also care for my own toddler & anohter toddler 3 days a week so I can't devote all my time to keeping them happy. Thank God for naps!!!
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I have two sets of three year old twins. They started at about 15 months of age. It KICKED MY BUTT! I have photos from back then, and I still shudder at how awful it was. Now, they are some of the most wonderful kids on earth.
But, it was a long hard year to get to this point.
Twins think of things together that singletons wouldn't think of. Then, if one twin has the thought, the other twin seems to read his or her mind, and joins in. They have some weird communication thing going on.
If you can just get through the next couple of months, it gets a lot easier. -
I think you should just hang in there. Don't feel that you have to be so accommodating though. For clingy kids, I just work really hard at maintaining my patience, unwrapping myself from their little hands and going about my day. Sometimes the catering just makes it that much worse. Don't let the crying cause you to get frazzled or lose your patience because they do feed off of a caregiver that seems to be losing it. Don't feel that you have to be physically entertaining them all the time either.Comment
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I guess that is it. I do spend time "Entertaining" them but I also go about my day, cleaning a bit, doing my own thing so to speak. I do play with them but it seems like if I try to go potty or throw in a load of lanudry or put the dishes in the dishwasher they just cry non-stop & that is the hard part. It drive MY son nuts but also frazzles me. I guess I just need to try to ignore it. I will only be watching them until the end of May so I only have about 5 weeks left. Sounds like such a long time.Comment
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Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming,.....Comment
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Wednesday I have 2 year old twins starting! Wish me luck.
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I remember how tired I was back when I added 18 month old twins to my group. But I think that adding ANY2 children at once is exhausting - it has nothing to do with them being twins! They are 3.5 now and I love them to pieces. Two of the smartest, sweetest, cutest boys I know. Though they do still get those mischievous little plans once in a while...Comment
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