Anybody have some pro tips for a new Mom?

[torontokids]

Don't pick him up all the time. When he's crying to be held then don't pick him up. When he's happy and playing, be on the floor next to him, give him lot's of positive praise. It is just part of the adjustment. He'll adapt and adjust.

On a side note: I think this job is a lot harder if it is not your sole focus. If you plan on spending a lot of time doing chores then this may not be realistic and may just leave you frustrated. That being said, I do daycare related chores during daycare hours e.g. wash up from snack, lunch etc but things like my own family's laundry, cleaning and cooking is done during nap time or after hours. I understand you have a small group (which is sometimes even more work because they struggle to entertain themselves) so you may have more flexibility then some of us.

[Lee-Bee]

I have to agree with torontokids. This job is not one that can be easily done if you expect to be taking care of the house at the same time. You can do house work during nap, but realistically you need some of that time to relax before the kids wake and you need to tend to daycare stuff too.

I believe you said the kids were about 9 and 14months? It is unlikely you will get much of anything done in the course of a day with those ages.

I now have my own 26month old daughter and a 30month old DCG and I can get some stuff done around the house but ultimately a good chunk of my day is still spent on meals, bathroom, nap routines along with arts, stories, directed play etc. I do make them go off and play on their own for chunks of time so I can do house work...but they are much older than your kids. DCG still struggles with this time as she has trouble entertaining herself and wants to follow me around. My daughter long ago learned to self entertain and is good for chunks of time, but she wonders why DCgirl is following me and starts following DCG (and me).

Make sure your expectations are appropriate so you aren't getting frustrated. Yes, there are times the kids have to entertain themselves so you can prep food, pee and tend to others. But at those ages you are not likely to get more than 5 minutes from them if you are out of sight!

I would suggest getting a routine going where you are managing laundry and folding it while sitting on the couch near them (with them playing on their own). Find other chores you can do really close so they can see you and feel you close so they are comfortable playing. Leave the other chores for nap time and after hours.