The twin difference
Something that every twin parent will undoubtedly have heard during the early years of parenthood is people saying ‘double trouble’ or asking the usual ‘are they identical’ or ‘how do you tell them apart’ questions.
Oh and another ‘do you dress them the same.’
The one that really annoys me is when both of our girls are dressed in pink and someone says ‘oh how lovely, you have one of each.’
What! They’re clearly girls! Very different girls at that!
I think people expect twins to be identical in every way!
I should point out here that I am an identical twin, however my twins are not identical.
From the moment they were born they looked different.
They have similarities and I think when M’s hair grows a bit more she’ll look a bit more like R, but personality wise they are very different!
A number of things bug me about other twin parents – please don’t hate me! It’s just my opinion and I’m sure you’ll have your opinion of me!
Number one – Dressing twins the same!
Oh my god, it drives me insane!
Why? Why? Why do you feel the need to dress your children the same?
To draw attention to the fact that you have twins?
I get enough comments from strangers as it is without advertising that they’re twins!
On a serious note, the main reason why this bugs me is because I believe children should be treated as individuals. I mean I wouldn’t wear the same thing as my friend or indeed even my twin sister.
I think twins should be treated as individuals instead of being moulded into one person in two separate bodies!
They should be allowed to develop their own personalities and ways, not be the same as their twin!
Oh and don’t even get me started on parents who dress their children who were born 2 years apart the same!
Number two – I’m sure they’re identical, better have a DNA test!
The number of times I have read this on twin parenting Facebook groups!
Does it matter!
Seriously, people saying that professionals have told them their twins are definitely not identical, but they don’t believe them and want to have a DNA test to see if they are identical.
The only plausible situation I can come up with for this is that their parents are disaster planning! In the event of something unthinkable happening to one twin they can use the other for spares! I’m only joking, but why does it matter?!
Differences
R is fiercely independent, knows what she wants and when she doesn’t get it she won’t be happy! Yet, she loves cuddles, tickles and raspberries being blown on her belly and neck! R enjoys watching tele now and again too.
M is a bit more reserved. She can be quiet and shy, but she’s a whirlwind!
She doesn’t watch TV much and loves to be doing something! She too loves cuddles and kisses, but is more of a tease and will pretend to give you a kiss and then run away at the last second!
What do you think? Do you have twins? Do you dress yours the same?
4 Comments
Anneka Lott
July 8, 2014 at 7:14 am
Lovely article. Agree on the identicial clothes! My mum still doesn't forgive my granmother for making her dress the same as her sister – encouraging individuality is a good thing in my opinion 🙂
sharon powell
July 8, 2014 at 8:09 am
Brilliant post! I don't have twins but I think if I did, I would feel the same as you. There is a two year age gap between my sister and I and my mum used to dress us the same and I hated it! Your two girls are beautiful and both have lovely personalities x
Beth Twinderelmo
July 8, 2014 at 10:38 am
I have 13 month ID twins & I dress them the same 🙈 most of the time. When they are old enough to choose their own clothes then i will certainly let them but id like to think that their clothes at this age don't define them as individuals – after 2 minutes you can certainly tell which is which! It's really nice to read a perspective from a twin themselves & is fascinating how different personalities sets of twins can be x
Catriona Stephen
July 8, 2014 at 12:59 pm
This is an interesting post and if I'm honest it's something I've never thought about. I went to school with identical twins and they were always wearing similar outfits but ine would wear one colour and the other would have the outfit in another colour. But they were old enough to make the choice they wanted to be matching xx