The benefits of having twins
I remember the day when we were told we could bring our twin girls home from special care. After 27 long days, home was in sight. The day before we took them home, my wife and I stayed in the parent room inside the special care unit with the girls on our own. Our first night alone, although the nurses and doctors were just next door!
I’m not a person that easily panics, but in a moment of being in the room on our own with the girls it gave me a huge anxiety attack and I needed a breath of fresh air.
The girls are now just over four years old and will be starting school this September full-time and looking back over the last four years I wondered to myself what are the benefits of having twins.
After having three children of different ages from my first marriage it’s been an interesting comparison to make and also highlights the benefits of having twins. So here they are.
1. In the early days of arriving home with twin girls it was going to be tough that much I knew. Looking back now the girls reached the first milestone of sleeping longer although it was probably only four hour slots.
2. Weaning was the next milestone that the twins reached and it was great to wean two babies at the same time. Both the girls went on to solid food at basically the same time learning from each other.
3. The girls started to crawl and walk at the same time. Yes it’s difficult when you have twins and they are going in different directions, but also funny when wondering which one do I get first!
4. Potty training. This is where having twins is so helpful as there is an element of competitive nature and they definitly want to please you by achieving it first.
5. Feeding themselves has also been interesting to watch. When one started to do it the other didn’t want to be left behind and consequently started feeding themselves.
6. Sometime during their second and third year the twins really started to notice each other and would occasionally start playing together.
7. When they started nursery it was very comforting that they had each other as almost a security blanket because after all it’s a very scary new world.
8. Now the girls are just over four years old they can make up and play games together for a long time. Being the same age helps because ultimately they like and enjoy the same things.
So having twins is easier by a long way. All the milestones children go through, yes it happens twice, but at the same time and that’s it children of different ages you have to go through all the trials and tribulations of childre. but with an age difference you have to wait a time period, and do it all again. In my experience, it’s much easier with twins.
