I am a twin. We are not identical but people who don’t know us, or don’t know us well have trouble telling us apart. To be fair, in pictures from when we were babies and toddlers even I can’t tell us apart (my mother has trouble with it too). Those who know us well however have no trouble distinguishing us.
Even though we are twins we are unique. We are each an individual with different likes and dislikes. We have chosen very different paths, although we have both ended up as single mothers. She married her high school sweetheart and had children in her early twenties. I met my ex in college and we waited until I was in my early thirties to have kids. She works with children and because of this has felt the struggle of a profession that is often not fairly compensated. I ended up in IT, even though most days I would prefer to work with children.
Being a twin gives me a unique perspective as a mother. My girls are 15 months apart and I have always made the effort to treat them as individuals. From the time they were little I paid attention to their uniqueness more than their similarities. I’ve encouraged them to be their own person, never dressing them alike or buying the same gift at Christmas. Over the years, I’ve attempted to spend time one on one with each of them. I’ve encouraged them to participate in different activities even when it stretched my already short free time, my oldest choosing Girl Scouts and my youngest opting for piano lessons.
But because they’re so close in age they have experienced some similarities to being twins. Strangers on the street have always stopped and asked if they were twins. They’re in different grades in school but they share some of the same friends. We often have several kids over and I encourage them not to exclude anyone, although I know at times they will want time alone with a friend. They have both been in non-competitive gymnastics for years, both at the same level so in the same class. They are getting ready to go up a level, but even then they will probably move up at the same time as they have the same skills left to master.
A lot of the tension between the two of them involves this struggle to maintain their own identity. They compare themselves against each other constantly, even though I feel I am continuously reminding them they are unique and can’t be compared. I know this is normal and I try to be patient with it. But as a mother I want nothing more than for the two of them to appreciate each other.
No two people are ever identical. It is our very individuality that makes this world such an interesting place.
Two of my best friends in college were twins. It has been interesting over the years to see their differences yet their irrefutable similarities that drew them together.
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It’s definitely a unique experience. 🙂 thanks for your comment!
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“No two people are ever identical. It is our very individuality that makes this world such an interesting place.”
Indeed I agree, great post ☺️
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Thank you!
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You’re most welcome
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Awesome piece!! I can envision life as a twin…though my children were also 13 months apart. Even though it was a boy and a girl, I often got asked if they were twins as they grew up. Our individuality and uniqueness are special qualities and certainly something to be appreciated and celebrated.
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Thanks! Fostering that individuality can be challenging but it is worth it!
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Hello,
Recently I’ve been nominated for the sunshine blogger award, and I wish to nominate you too. I hope you don’t mind.
https://unoriginalnotes.com/2018/03/20/the-sunshine-blogger-award/
Best regards,
Liz
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Thank you!
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You’re welcome! 😉
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Hello, hello ❤
I have nominated you for The Sunshine Blogger Award 🙂
http://discoveringyourhappiness.com/2018/03/21/the-sunshine-blogger-award-6/
Thank you for bringing sunshine to my life ❤
I can't wait to read your response ❤
Anita, xo
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Thanks so much!
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Wonderful post
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Thank you!
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same same but different, we are all unique but have so much in common!
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That’s true. The other day I argued that we should be uniting not dividing and categorizing people. It crossed my mind when writing this that I was going against that point a bit but in the end I left it as it is. 😁
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lol entirely different situations 🙂
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Nice one!
We are all different, each in his/her unique way, yet share the same nature of being human, that strangely makes us alike!!!
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Beautiful photo and lovely post. Thank you for reminding us it is important every human is an individual even if they are twins.
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Thank you! 😁
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