Some people ask themselves what on Earth they did to deserve twins.
I ask myself how I got so lucky.
Maybe it's because I'm also a twin myself and I'm biased in this department.
But having twins and getting to watch them grown and figure out this world together is like nothing else.
That's not to say that having twins is a breeze because, sometimes, it's more like standing still while being bowled over by gale force winds.
Being a parent of twins certainly has its challenges.
The newborn stage with twins can be especially challenging, but you find ways to make it work.
You figure out how to do simultaneous feeds in a way that keeps each one happy (read: not screaming) and from experiencing reflux (read: simultaneous barfs) pretty quickly.
But being a parent of twins also has its rewards.
And, sometimes, they show up in the most unexpected ways, usually two-fold, which makes most milestones twice as momentous.
Sometimes, when you're in the thick of a dual meltdown that seems like nothing you do or try can make it better, it's hard not to focus on the tough parts.
I'm not gonna lie; there are days that are HARD. So unbelievably and excruciatingly hard.
Sometimes, you find yourself doing everything twice and somehow still getting zero results.
Sometimes, you find yourself doing everything twice (or three or four times with different approaches) and somehow still getting zero results.
Sometimes, there can be amazing parts peppered into those difficult days, as your little ones are learning new skills and proudly showing off what they've figured out how to do, or letting silly, new parts of their unique personality shine through.
Sometimes, those amazing parts aren't quite there yet, and you just need to power through until bedtime and bank on starting fresh in the morning.
As those tough days wind down, and you replay particular parts of the day in your mind, you may realize that the older your twins get, the more you're experiencing those tricky days.
...you may realize that the older your twins get, the more you're experiencing those tricky days.
Then, as you consider how tough the last stretch has truly been and wonder how long this difficult stage can possibly last, your toddler suddenly cries, "Look!" and points out the window with fervor.
And you instinctively panic because when you have twins, your body gets trained to flip into Fight or Flight Mode in a flash. You're on edge without even realizing it because when something unexpected happens, it's usually because one twin is running toward danger at high speed while their counterpart is doing the exact same thing...twice as fast in the opposite direction.
...when you have twins, your body gets trained to flip into Fight or Flight Mode in a flash. You're on edge without even realizing it...
So, when your toddler yells at you to look at something, your eyes flick over to where he's pointing urgently, and you ask, "What? What is it?" while scanning the area for an impending car accident or animal on the road.
But your toddler is so exhilarated, they can hardly get their words out, and they have to focus in order to speak them aloud because they want to be sure you can understand completely the first time they say it.
He takes another second, and then he says with clarity and awe, and a swelling pitch of emotion, "Look, Mommy! Over there! Sunset!"
And you peek to where he's pointing and see that he's right.
And you pause for a second to take in the beautiful sight in the sky, as he and his brother rattle off the colors they can see with zeal.
"I see yellow! I see pink! I see purple! And white! And blue!"
As you listen to them chatter excitedly to each other, you instantly forget about how challenging the last while's been and breathe a sigh of relief because your kids, the ones you're raising, are stopping to notice the beautiful things in this world.
They're thrilled about them, and they want to share the special moments with those around them—going to great lengths to make sure they don't miss them, which, when you're an adult, can be so easy to do.
It's the moments like those that make you proud to be a parent.
And if you're lucky enough to call yourself a parent to two, consider yourself twice as lucky to be holding their hands as they grow because they've given you a front row seat to a show so good, you'll want to watch it on repeat.
Do you think having multiple babies at once is a challenge or a reward? Or a mix of both? Why? Let us know in the Comments section below or connect with us on Instagram to share your thoughts!
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