Controlling kid chaos

On my second errand with two children in tow, I ended up covered in urine and wondering how in the world other mothers manage to get anything done with kids.

Let me explain. I had ventured out with my 3-year-old daughter and newborn daughter to get photos taken at a nearby studio. In the process of taking photos of my baby in the standard naked newborn pose, she urinated all over the studio set and then proceeded to pee all over me. I’m talking a torrential wave that soaked through my clothes, ran down my leg and sloshed in my shoe.

Of course I just kept my mouth shut and got through the photo shoot because getting children dressed, combed and to a photo shoot is slightly more difficult than childbirth itself.

As I sat in my daughter’s urine while smiling for the camera, I wondered how other mothers do it. I seriously wanted to applaud every other mother I saw that day who was hauling two or more kids through the mall, the grocery store or to the park. And I’m completely in awe of women with three-plus kids who attempt to run errands or accomplish anything with their children.

With multiple kids there is always someone crying or whining or needing to be changed or wiped. I’m always rushing to get anything done because the baby needs to be nursed every two hours on the dot. And while nursing with my first daughter was a relaxing and bonding experience, nursing this time around involves my 3-year-old swinging from my neck or gouging the baby’s soft spot while I attempt to feed her.

And don’t even get me started on getting dressed in the morning. If I can get showered, dressed and everyone else ready by noon, I’m feeling pretty great about myself.

So I could use some tips here, moms. How do you stay in control of your life once you have more than one kid? Any suggestions on how to make errands less heinous and the day more productive?