I’m sure we’ve all heard it before. We’ve heard it in those comments from strangers who said that they always wished they had a twin. We’ve heard it from other parents of multiples. We’ve heard it from multiples and twins themselves: there’s something very, very special about being a twin.
It’s often this twin connection, this twin bond, that strangers like to inquire about – Do they have their own twin-speak? Is one more dominant? Do they like to hold hands or snuggle together? Do they get along? Do they always want to be together?
A twin has a built-in playmate and, hopefully, a built-in best friend, too. I mean, twins can’t have a sibling any closer in age! And I know that I loved having siblings close in age to me (my sister is 16 months older than me, and my brother is 15 months older than her) as I spent so much time with them and they became my best friends.
And I have to say this ultra special sibling connection is one of the greatest blessings and advantages about having twins. While twins are especially demanding in the first year or two of life, part of the reason I think they get easier with the passing days and months and years is that they have each other. As a parent, I don’t have to entertain them myself all day long. I don’t have to come up with things to do for them. They can play with each other. They can talk to each other. They are siblings, playmates, and best friends, as well as being twins.
My twin daughters may not be identical, but they still have this great bond. Now, at the age of three years, I love hearing them play together, hearing them giggle, watching them smile, holding hands and hugging of their own fruition, apologizing, kissing boo-boos, and pretending. I love how they encourage each other (though sometimes it may mean double trouble for mom and dad!), share, care, and love each other.
My daughters will always have each other to share their lives with, step by step. It’s so unique! And I know it must be that bond, that connection, that people are often jealous of! They want their children or themselves to have a best friend for life. They want to have someone who has always been right there with them through all of their lives, through the good, the bad, and the wonderful.
While I know that some twins don’t stay best friends forever (sad!), and often end up going their separate ways, I hope that I can continue to foster their love and affection towards each other, so that when they are grown and have their own lives and families, they will still have each other, though maybe not in a physical way.
Twins are a blessing indeed, aren’t they? Even if some days that blessing only seems to be for their benefit and not ours.
Are your twins best friends? Do they share a special bond? What have you done to foster it through the passing years?
ldskatelyn is the proud mama of twin daughters and a four-month old bouncing baby boy. She counts her multiple blessings everyday and love that her kids have each other, as she loved having all of her own eight siblings growing up! Find out more about her and her family at What’s up Fagans?
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Hmm… That might be true for G/G twins (in fact my older and younger daughters play well) but definitely not true in our house for B/G twins. Yes, they share life’s adventures which I personally enjoy and know they will when they are older and have someone who can help remind me of all the adventures but right now it is much more fighting than playing together (at almost 5). Ned is a boy. He pushes his sisters’ buttons and they react as one would expect in this 4 is the new 14 hormonal way.
Yeah! I wondered what B/G twin moms had to say! Of course, this post is about the good aspect of them being so close in age, but we all know that siblings close in age can also fight like there’s no tomorrow with each other! Post for another day though there!
Your girls don’t look too much alike, but they’re splitting images of one parent each!
It always makes me chuckle when people ask, “Do they get along?”
Um, yes??? At 4 1/2, our girls are almost always together. Yes, they get in each others’ way from time to time, but probably 80% of the time they’re playing together. About 15% of the time they’re playing around each other. That leaves maybe 5% of the time that they’d probably like their own space. 😉
As an only child, I love-love-love seeing my girls together. I try very hard not to put any unrealistic expectations on their relationship, but I think it’s such a beautiful, amazing thing that they have each other. I hope they always — ultimately — feel that way, too.