by Podcast: Download
There have been some aspects of raising twins that are par for the course and pretty similar to our experience in raising our singletons. However, there have been some surprising things about twins, as well.
I have been surprised:
- By how many diapers we’d go through. It seems that they get used up as fast as we can buy them.
- That I’d ever be able to tell my identical twin girls apart at a glance
- That my other kids were able to tell the twin girls apart before I could
- That sleep deprivation was worse than with a singleton
- By how many people gawk at our family when we are all out in public
- That the girls do so many things the same and yet are so different
- By just how much we’d need that twin double stroller to control the chaos in public
- By how big and uncomfortable my wife would get during pregnancy
- By how little time or energy I’ve had to do anything but clean up the house after the kids are all in bed
- By the mountains of clean laundry that stack up on laundry day
- By the sheer amount of toys two toddlers can unleash in less than five minutes if given a chance
- That I haven’t been able to figure out a way to have both twins help me cook in the kitchen (i.e., make cookies) at the same time
- By how much time it takes to get shoes on, jackets on, diaper bag packed, and everyone loaded into their car seats before we’re ready to go somewhere
- At the amount of patience having two sick twins at the same time requires
- By how happy I am to be greeted by two happy faces who run to me for hugs and kisses when I get home from work
- By how truly satisfying being a parent is
If you’ve already had your twins, what is something that surprised you?
Picture by Christopher
Three things that surprized me:
1. How much they sleep! It seems like we just get them up, changed, fed, a bit of play, and then it’s time to go back to bed. My 8 month old twins sleep for 17-18 hours/day.
2. How happy they are. There are so many smiles and so much laughter. Those early mornings are made so much easier when we go into their room and are greeted with two smiling faces.
3. How easy it is to change a diaper. I thought I’d be gagging at every poop. But, overall it’s not so bad.
@Ross – The sleep and happy spirits definitely make life a little easier. On the diaper front, I was like you before we had kids – uneasy about changing diapers – but now I’m a diaper pro!
@Joe, the sheer amount of diapers is why we switched to cloth at around 10 months.
We use cloth and I’m glad…I can’t imagine keeping disposables stocked!
I was surprised at how much fun they are…nothing is more comforting than two babies snuggling up!
@Dakotapam – You’re right on how much fun they are. Never a dull moment in our house!
Pregnant with Twins now. 26 weeks and I am super uncomfortable and on bed rest already. I feel as big as my 9 month self with singletons but I still have a few months to go. Just can’t imagine getting bigger and more uncomfortable. Everything hurts. Just ready to hold my baby girls but not ready for the sleep deprivation.
@Stacy – hang in there! It will be a difficult but they don’t stay in there forever. Best of luck with your preparations.
My husband and I have both been surprised at how much gawking that takes place. My daughters are about to turn 11 months and we took them out to dinner once and the server kept coming back to play and talk with them.
@Christine – twins definitely make you a celebrity!
My identical girls are 7 – I knew they’d have some type of special bond, but I never expected how fiercely and passionately they’d love each other (and fight with each other haha). I am also surprised by how their in utero personalities have matched their in-person personalities since day 1. It’s pretty amazing (one free-spirit: in utero ‘spinner’ and one rule-follower: in utero head-down complier… note that they also fought in utero, which has not changed either lol). I never expected to be able to love two beings as much as I do – more every day!
@Amy – my wife has commented similarly that she could tell their personalities in the womb and sees how those carried over after birth.
How I would have no time AT ALL for myself.
How all I want all day is just a minute to rest, and then when they go to sleep……I miss them. Twin life is the best!
@Stephanie – you capture life with twins perfectly: always on duty!
Shocked at how much money we spend just on formula each week. It feels like we just bought a bunch, and it’s already time to get more.
@John – I hear you! Voracious eaters.
How much I would be used as a seat! My girls are 6 now and still sit on me (each with their own preferred side/position) I do love it really, but sometimes their little toes and sharp elbows cause a teeny (massive) amount of irritation!
@Kate – ah yes, the life of a parent/seat. I love cuddling with my kids but they definitely get me with those elbows too!