Growing up as the older sister of identical twins, I always thought twins were awesome. They certainly got lots of attention. I loved having twin younger brothers. I even took them as my "show and tell" one year in school.
Then as I got older and got married and began my own family I experienced the joys of morning sickness. Suddenly the idea of twins seemed so appealing. Half the sick time for twice the prize. Then my sister had twins.
My parents were on a mission so I packed my 2 girls in the car and drove up from California to "play grandma" for them. My last night there I told my sister to sleep through the night and I would do the boys myself so she could get some rest. I slept 1.5 hours that night. I no longer wanted twins. :)
Since then, both my brother Darren and Jonathan's brother Aaron have had twins (about a week apart). Those sets of twins are now just over 19 months. My brother Darren and his incredible wife Nikki stopped by tonight on their way home from Utah. I listened to their stories of trying to travel and get some sleep with 2 little ones in port-a-cribs and messed up sleep schedules. Once again, a distinct feeling of gratitude for my single births came over me.
I am grateful to have had my kids one at a time and to be able to enjoy the wonders of each different age category at one time.
7 comments:
I thought the same thing, until I had twins myself. They were babies #3 and #4 out of 5. It has been an amazing experience, and one I wouldn't trade for anything. You get into a rhythm, just like with one baby. I nursed them exclusively at the same time, etc... One of the most blessed experiences of my life. And then, when baby #5 was a singleton, it has been a piece of cake! :)
I echo the previous poster! After having my first, I thought twins would be a nightmare. Then I had identical girls. No one told me how amazing it would be. No one tells you that while occassionally there is more trouble and pain than if you had a singleton, the joy is more than tenfold. Occassionally I feel bad that not everyone can experience the incredible blessings of having best friends born together. It is so special. Four years later, it continues to be one of the best things that has ever happened to me. Like the previous poster said, you get into a rhythm, just like one baby. You figure it out and it's not that hard. It's SO MUCH FUN. And then when I had my #4, he seemed so incredibly easy, I am able to enjoy him even more than if I hadn't had twins too. LOVE IT. I wish everyone could experience it.
Has anyone else noticed an increase in twin births recently? In the last 12 months or so, I've known of 7 sets of twin babies. And most, if not all, of them were not caused by any sort of fertility treatment. Two sets were of couples who had previously dealt with infertility, but were not using any treatment at the time. Three sets were at the end of already LARGE families. (One set was #5 & #6, One set was #6 & #7. The other set were #10 & #11)
These are just the ones I know personally. There are many, many other's I've heard of in the last year. It's funny because when I hear of someone having a singleton it's weird like, "Oh, she only had one baby."
I'm honestly nervous to get pregnant again. I don't think I could do twins. (My babies tend to be terribly colicy and I'm very small.)
Has anyone else noticed an increase in twins recently?
I think you are going to offend all of your twin mommy readers, but I have 4 children, 2 that are fraternal twin boys, age 9. I have always thought my twins were harder. Still are. Maybe it's just their energetic personalities and girls would have been easier. I love them both, but most of the time wish they would have come separately. Although they still hold hands on occasion and there's nothing cuter than that!
I always thought it would be fun to be a twin, but I have never wanted to have them. I am really short and even with my single babies, people ask me if I am having twins. I don't think I could fit more then one baby :) There definitely are certain (amazing) parents made for raising twins. I was not one of those...I can barely handle one at a time :) I do think you would have to have them first, so you don't know any different and then when you had a singleton, it would be a breeze.
My first baby was colicky and so hard. When I found out I was pregnant with twins, I didn't think I would survive having two infants. Little did I know that sometimes twins just aren't that hard! My babies were so easy, bordering on perfect. I know that's not always the case, but I think there is something to be said for having to learn to share everything--attention, space, etc. from even before birth. My babies were patient, tolerant, and happy. They could sleep anywhere and under any conditions. I'm sure it had something to do with being used to being poked and prodded in the womb and they slept through each others' noises/crying, ever since birth. I have never had to entertain them as toddlers since they always had each other. They are my most socially and emotionally mature children. They have a best friend and cheerleader wherever they go, so I worry less about them. Twins make life easier in a lot of ways--they start new things at the same time, share toys, etc. And as far as enjoying the 'wonders of each different age category at one time,' it's just like having more than one child--you just make a conscious effort to spend individual time with each child just as you do with multiple children at home.
One of life's biggest myths is that multiples are less desirable than singletons. Just like some people think having more than one child is selfish or undesirable because it divides your resources, time, etc. We both know that's not true! The blessings only multiply exponentially for each child, and it's the same way with multiple births. You juggle more things, but the reward is so worth it. I'm not twice blessed, I'm blessed so much more than that. It's an almost tangible feeling, the blessing is so great. It's too bad that it's only something that moms of multiples know though. Although it's probably for the better because then everyone would know what they're missing out on!!
I too am a mother of twin boys baby #3 and 4 for me. So 4 boys total. The first months were a blur. But now, it's wonderful. You do get in a rythem and just do it. It's not as bad as it sounds!
There are twins everywhere it seems!
I live near your hubby's store, I'm gonna have to go down there even though I never have any luck winning anything!!
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