It was about 8 pm the other night when my wife Angie and I became aware of something we had not heard in a long time: the sweet sound of silence.

We exchanged a knowing glance and then hugged each other, before collapsing on the couch.

Parenting two under two is about as exhausting as it sounds.

We’re a long way from mastering this art, but we’re learning fast. Perhaps you’ll find some of our recent discoveries helpful too…

1. Divide and Conquer

Parenting young children can be overwhelming, but dividing responsibilities makes a world of difference. Take our post-dinner routine, for example: one of us handles bath time while the other tackles the mess in the kitchen, making the evening flow more smoothly and easing the load on both of us.

There are other times when we each take responsibility for one child. I now invite Squish, our toddler, to join me outside to “help” with simple jobs like taking out the bins or watering the garden. I also take her with me when running small errands in town. The bonus? By spending time with just one parent, our overactive toddler calms right down — and my wife also gets a break.

2. Play to Your Strengths

Let’s be honest here — Angie possesses most of the parenting strengths! But I have also been discovering some of my own.

Our two-month-old baby is currently struggling with sleep and digestive issues. The other day, I found a particular method of putting him to sleep that worked wonders — and that has worked most times since. Now, when nothing else seems to help, my wife knows exactly who to call.

Another example: Squish is at her most energetic in the late afternoon. And there’s nothing that burns her energy more than rough-and-tumble play with Dad.

On the flip side, she throws a huge tantrum anytime I try to change her nappy. My wife, on the other hand, has worked out how to tell her stories and make her settle for long enough to get the job done.

These are just a few ways we’re learning to play to our strengths and use them to our advantage.

3. Embrace the Chaos

Last week, Angie surprised me with a couple nights for our family down the coast in celebration of my birthday and our wedding anniversary.

It has often been said that going on holidays with kids is just parenting in a different location. Last week’s trip was the first opportunity we had to put this saying to the test, and it proved to be very accurate. But we adjusted our expectations accordingly — and we had a fantastic time.

Sometimes, it can feel like parenting forces you to simplify life to its most basic and boring routines, and put everything else on hold just to survive. No doubt, some days and weeks will be exactly that.

But our recent trip down the coast was a much-needed reminder that, even with two under two, life can still be adventurous. You just need to lean in and embrace the chaos.

4. Remember Why You’re Doing It

Parenting young children is a challenging journey, but it’s also incredibly rewarding.

Amid the exhaustion, frustration, and chaos, we have been trying to remember why we are parenting in the first place — namely, to love our children well, and to pass our faith and values on to them.

Our little ones may test our patience at times, but their smiles, laughs, and progress make it all worthwhile.

Parenting two under two is a rollercoaster, and some days, we’re just holding on for dear life. But it will all be worth it in the end — and it will be made much easier as we stay grateful along the way.

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Image courtesy of Unsplash.