5 Twin Toddler Half-Truths – Momma Blog Feature

06/26/2017

I’m a stay at home mama to boy/girl twin toddlers that likes to read, write, craft and practice yoga. I am discovering a new passion somewhere deep down for baking and am a huge animal lover. I drink way too much coffee during the day and stay up too late at night. I enjoy crime reality shows, Vietnamese food, potty humor, any movie with Vin Diesel except for The Pacifier and colorful fluffy socks.

5 Twin Toddler half-truths (as I see it)

by Andrea Spaude-Kerr

It gets easier.  

I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve heard this, clinging to it as if it’s the light at the end of the tunnel. “Please, give me an exact date!!” I heard 6 months, 1 year, 2 years…. Still waiting.. So here’s the truth, it doesn’t get easier necessarily, it just gets…different. Yes at 2 I’m not dealing with overnight feeds but I am most definitely dealing with dual tantrums in the middle of a Costco shopping trip. I’m not having to worry about them falling and hurting themselves while learning to stand/walk. I am having to wrangle them off of the kitchen table which is apparently where the dance party was today so they don’t fall (or jump or push each other) off. They can speak now, so they can tell me if they have an “owie” or need a “nack” but they can also tell me those things at 10pm when they’re supposed to be sleeping or 5am.. when they’re supposed to be sleeping…

At least they have each other to play with. 

Yes. They do. Sometimes it’s amazing to watch them interact, play chase, giving each other hugs and kisses. Often though, its horrifying to watch them fight over every little thing, pulling each others hair, trying to dunk each other in the bath tub because while they’ve been together long before Day 1, they’re still two very different individuals and well, they’re 2 😉 There’s no rationalizing with a 2 year old so when you have two of them vying for the same thing all day long you definitely get a lesson in patience.

You should have two of everything to avoid the fighting

Bahaha! This makes me laugh out loud every time I hear it. It doesn’t matter if you have one or twenty of the same thing, the chances are very good that they will still fight over it. Case in point, the two identical balance bikes hidden away in our shed possibly forever. There is literally no difference, they are the exact same bike in every way but if Toddler A is on one, Toddler B must have it- it’s just how it goes. Books are no different- I have 2 copies of a favorite “Goodnight Moon”, either will sit with both books rather than allowing the other to hold one. So save yourself the money and disappointment where you can and just buy one. We have 2 of the bigger things because those rare blissful moments where they will actually play together peacefully each with their own toy for 15-20 min but the things that aren’t necessary we just have one.

Double Trouble

In theory, yes, but usually not at the same time. I can typically count on one being more easily swayed than the other at any given time. It’s the awful days that we shouldn’t have left the house that they’re both a complete wreck but thankfully those are not as common. In fact, I have one that likes to try to issue “breaks” (aka time out) to her brother when she feels he’s in need of one.

They Have their own Language

I really wanted to see this, I thought this was a definite going to happen moment. Sadly, I don’t think this is always the case. Mine speak a mixture of English and the usual 2-year-old gibberish along with hand signals and gesturing. Often they are just as confused by what the other is trying to say as I am and on the flip side seem to communicate this way just effectively with their same-age friends. Having seen this first hand with other sets of twins, I know this does happen and maybe it’s a case of different environment (separate bedrooms, different genders, different stages in development) or maybe it’s yet to come?