Is it easier to raise multiples (twins etc)
I read a survey recently which said that parents of multiples are more likely to divorce. The figure is actually as high as 80% which I find hard to believe.
I’ve been married twice. My first marriage ended in divorce and I will point out now it had nothing to do with our three children. The marriage was broken and completely unmendable.
My second marriage which is still very strong – and we have been blessed with twins.
So I will answer the question of “Is it easier to raise three children of separate ages or multiples from my own experiences.”
In my first marriage I had three children. When the last one was born the oldest had not even turned four years of age. I can honestly say this was a nightmare, we were in a pile of nappies for approximately six years!
The demands and needs of three children of different ages are completely different so there is never any rest from teething, sleepless nights, potty training etc and you simply cannot give the right attention that the children deserves because one or more of them is missing out. You get through it and actually as they older they became company for each other.
In my second marriage we were lucky enough to have twins, who are now three years old. It’s been much easier bringing up twins.
Everything disappears at the same time. Teething, sleepless nights, potty training and nappies. For the last year or so the girls have started playing together which is fantastic to watch and consequently this frees up your time to do other things. I will say the girls for most of the time are really well behaved and that helps.
So in conclusion I would say having multiples, in our case twins, is much easier and I really can’t see where the pressure of having twins is apart from the odd moment where I have had my patience tested with them. It has been brilliant, amazing and such a joy to watch them grow.
8 Comments
RM
April 1, 2015 at 6:47 am
We're just a year into life as PoM; thanks for the encouraging words!
4under4madness
April 3, 2015 at 3:17 pm
I have a 4 and 2 year old and they are much harder work than my 7 month old twins! I am prepared to eat my words though as the twins get older. Hoping I come to the same conclusion as you
#blinkylinky
Emily
April 3, 2015 at 7:22 pm
As you know hubs I only have experience of our twins, but I think twins is easier than two of different ages. With twins everything is done and dusted at once, but if you have two of different ages you have to constantly manage the need of two different ages. Twins was hard at time though. When they both cry at the same time, both need feeding at the same time etc. Our girls are pretty good though aren't they! Thanks for linking up to the #BinkyLinky
J.C. Page
April 4, 2015 at 12:20 am
My twin girls (now 23) are mirrors of each other. Not only in looks, but in handedness, with one a lefty and one a righty. At about two years old they were equally content to play with each other, or in front of a mirror. The only downside was the occasional bump on the head when trying to kiss their twin…in the mirror!
I agree completely that multiples are easier. We had births in our house roughly two years apart for kiddos 1, 2/3, 4, 5, 6, and 7. A tiny bit longer for #8. Having had lots of experience with the different stages of life, it's really interesting to now see them as the majority have reached high school and beyond. They're all starting to act like humans towards each other, making those early years more rewarding. Of course, it took more than a decade to get to the "rewarding" part LOL
Make it a great day, so glad to have found you (again) via the #BinkyLinky!
Al Ferguson
April 4, 2015 at 7:24 am
Thanks for sharing this. It was interesting to read about your experiences and comparisons. Great to have you linking up to #bigfatlinky
Mama, My Kid Doesn’t Poop Rainbows
April 4, 2015 at 7:25 am
Interesting…I never thought about it that way- just the crazy logistics of how to cope with meeting two babies' demands at once. But you make a valid point. I want a sibling for my tot but really put off the idea of going back to sleepless nights etc.
#bigfatlinky
Mum in a Nutshell
April 4, 2015 at 7:27 am
Thats so interesting reading it from both sides and you could very well equipped to have an opinion! I'm a mum of 3 of very difference ages and found them very easy to parent but can imagine that if they were closer it'd been a different story.
Martyn Kitney
April 5, 2015 at 1:18 pm
Very thought provoking. It's interesting to see if from your point of view too. Having two close together definitely makes things easier in my house. I don't know how I would cope with a larger gap. #bigfatlinky