How I stay grounded and peaceful with 2 kids who are 2 and under

I am a proud Mama of 2 amazing boys- Carter, who turned 2 less than a week ago and Colson, who is 11 months old. Yes, they are close in age and though I was a nervous wreck when I found out I was pregnant with Colson so quickly after having Carter, we would not have it any other way. And TBH, when I think back on it, because I'm older mom (Advanced Maternal Age by OBGYN standards lol!), if I hadn't gotten pregnant when I did, the more time that had passed after having Carter, the less likely I would have been to try for another baby. So it worked out great for us and could not be more happy with our #guistpartyoffour!

Carter, 2 years old

That being said, every day is certainly not serene and orderly. Far from it at times! Sometimes, I'm frazzled, overwhelmed or just downright exhausted. Sometimes, the kids are irritable, tired and grumpy. And sometimes, we are ALL feeling ALL the emotions! And, you know what? That's OK. And, it's normal.

Colson, 11 months old

I strive each and every day to create a peaceful, loving, open and nurturing environment for my kids. I believe it starts with me- how I approach the day, my actions, my communication, my love- and flows onto them. If they sense I'm having an off day, in a bad mood or am tired, they tend to feel the same. So, here are some things I do each and every day to try to remain grounded and peaceful.

1. I wake up earlier than my kids

Everyday, regardless of the fact that I may hit snooze 5 times or just want to sleep in, I wake up earlier than my kids. Even if it's only 30 minutes or less than before them, I always wake up before them. Why? I want to start off the day ready to go and be on the offense, not defense. If I rise early, I have time to wake up, ease into the day and have some quiet time to myself to read, reflect, journal, have a cup of coffee etc. I feel it's important to have some time alone every day to recharge, reflect or wind down.

2. I practice Yoga

I practice Yoga every single day. I don't necessarily practice asanas (poses) daily, though I often do, even if it's just a few minutes a day. But what I do practice daily is either meditation, breathing, asanas or a combination of those. For example, if I start feeling overwhelmed, I take a moment to take deep breaths in and out. After several rounds of breathing, I always feel calmer. I feel like my daily practice helps me maintain a positive mindset, practice loving kindness and mindfulness.

Practicing yoga with Colson

3. I have a general plan or routine for our day

I like to be organized, but I'm not a stickler about sticking to a rigid schedule. My kids stick to a similar routine each day (wake up, eat breakfast, brush teeth, get dressed, free play, etc), but it's not always at the same time each day, which is why I consider it a routine and not a schedule. If we are meeting friends to play or going to the library for story time, I know ahead of time so we're all prepared and not running around frazzled, doing everything at the last minute. I feel like it is calming and reassuring for our kids to generally know what to expect, which supports the kind of environment we are trying to cultivate in our home.

4. I give myself grace

There are days that nothing goes as I expected- I overslept, I'm exhausted, one or both of the boys need extra attention, one or both of the boys didn't nap or I'm overwhelmed because of any number of reasons. On these days I really use pranayama (breath control) to calm and center myself. I also give myself grace and remind myself that I am not perfect, my kids are not perfect and LIFE is not perfect. It's OK and normal to have bad days, get overwhelmed and be frustrated. I allow myself to sit with my feelings and then move on. One thing I know for sure having 2 kids so young is that each day goes incredibly fast, so if I'm having an off day I know it will be over before I know it and I can have a better day tomorrow!