Going out with the twins is always an adventure. Sometimes it feels like we’re sideshow freaks. Strangers see me with the girls and laugh and say they’ll pray for us. They comment on how cute or little they are. They say things like “better you than me!” Once a little boy told me I “must be really brave” because I had so many babies. I had no idea what to say to that other than thank you. Most of these comments make me pretty proud. Not everyone can handle twins. Occasionally the comments irritate me. “Twins!? That must be awful!” Ummm…no. Having kids is pretty awful but we love them anyway. Sometimes it sucks, but buddy that’s just parenting. What’s one more, right? Some strangers are different though. They are part of a tribe that I unwittingly became a part of when I had the girls.
The Twin Club is a beautiful thing. These are the parents of grown children who stop you with smiles and tell you. “It’s okay! You’ll survive! Mine are 30 now!” There are the parents of older twins who look at you and say “Terrible Twos are a breeze but brace yourself for Threenagers!” There are the occasional odd balls. Like the Dad who is so proud of his wife breastfeeding their twins for three years that he tells you all about it. There are the sad ones too. The rare mother who looks at you with sadness in her eyes and tells you, “I was pregnant with twins but we lost one.” Those are hard.
It’s not just parents either. You meet people who are twins themselves. You see them recognize the twin bond. They never ask “are they twins?” They usually start with “I’m a twin too!” My girls seem naturally drawn to people who are twins. Strangers who we meet everywhere. They smile and coo and giggle for them when usually they give strangers the stink eye. Maybe they sense the bond. I especially love meeting young twins. At the store the other day a little boy made his Mom find us because he wanted to say hi to the twins that his twin brother saw earlier on their trip. I think they like seeing people who are like them. Other kids who experience the craziness that comes with having a twin.
I never thought I’d be a part of this crazy, unofficial club but I love it. I’m proud to be a Twin Mom. Proud of my amazing girls who were born fighters. Proud of my body for all that it’s done to make me their Mommy and nourish them. Proud of my Bonus kids for being such huge helpers and rolling with this curveball because Lord knows they weren’t expecting this either. I’m proud of my Husband too for being such an amazing Daddy. This is the best club I’ve ever been in.
Mom Van Confessions 