Two times the love
There comes a responsibility of having two babies at once that is hard to comprehend until it happens to you. I would say the hardest thing for me is to give both TheMonk and Swee’Pea the same amount of attention. This is especially true when they are both unhappy and crying and I’m the only one around. I go to comfort one and watch as the other one looks at me holding his or her sibling and a feeling of guilt washes over me. I want to be there for both and sometimes that’s just impossible.
This weekend our babies were sick. In the Childsplayx2 household, since I don’t have boobs and don’t have my nipples yanked and bitten on a daily basis, I have night-time duty. If the babies get up, Daddy gets up. This has gotten easier and easier as they are just about sleeping through the night. Except when they’re sick. This weekend, both had coughs and were incredibly congested. It was a rough couple of nights.
Early Sunday I am awakened by both babies crying. I go to TheMonk first hoping to calm him down since he is usually the easier of the two to get back to sleep. I have no such luck so I go to Swee’Pea hoping for a miracle. It doesn’t happen. They both want to be comforted and I can tell both are still tired. I scoop both of them up and carry them to our chaise lounge and pull a blanket over us. Swee’Pea gets tucked into my left arm, facing out. TheMonk lies on my belly and rests his head on my chest. It’s still fairly dark out and we lie there in the warmth of the blanket.
Before long, both are sleeping in our early morning cuddle. I glance down at their angelic faces and I am struck by how fortunate I am. For so long I wanted a little one to share my life with – and now I have two. Two little ones who love being held by their daddy, feeling safe, secure and a little bit tired. Yes, they may be a lot of work and yes, it would be easier with one. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.
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I 100%, whole-heartedly agree with you Matthew. Life would be easier with one… but there is NO WAY IN HELL I would want it any other way than 2 at a time…
It’s a beautiful thing.
Comment by Kemp — February 27, 2006 @ 7:46 am
Love you all very much
Comment by Grandmother — February 27, 2006 @ 9:52 am
Well, I have two (but not twins), and I remember how worried I was when Baby Boy came along. Was I going to be able to love him as much as I loved his sister? Would I be able to divide up my time between a totally dependent infant and a demanding toddler? Would I go insane trying?
The short answers are yes, yes and yes. When he was born, I suddenly found myself with yet another heart to give to my son, because I loved him so much. And because God does not give us more than we can handle, he gave Baby Boy the most compliant, laid-back personality that I have ever seen in a baby, which allows me the time to deal with his high-strung sister.
And because I want to have another child someday, I think that classifies me as insane. And I wouldn’t trade my insanity for anyone else’s.
Comment by Deanna — February 27, 2006 @ 10:28 am
I’m with Matthew and Kemp. While sometimes I think twins are more than twice as hard, I also think they are more than twice as rewarding. Especially when they hold hands or hug each other – or dress alike.
Comment by Sarah — February 27, 2006 @ 11:17 am
I couldn’t agree more. It’s the coolest thing in the world to have twins (especially b/g twins but of course I’m somewhat biased) but those times when you have to comfort one when tears are streaming down the cheeks of the other — that’s sooooo hard.
Comment by Brenda — February 27, 2006 @ 11:58 am
Nor would I want it any other way. To see my two playing together gives me a joy unsurpassed. It must just be that time of year because mine have nasty colds, too, and so do David’s over at Lim Twins.
Comment by Amy — February 27, 2006 @ 12:04 pm
damn you people, I want twins now (I hear my husband signing the paperwork for the mental lockdown)
Comment by Trish — February 27, 2006 @ 1:50 pm
How sweet. I didn’t have twins, but I did have five kids in just over 6 years. It is so rewarding. They are the best of friends most of the time. They get into awful fights, but wouldn’t let a single other kid do anything to any of the others. I have my bad days, but I also have some very rewarding days. I would have loved to have twins back when we first started having kids. I know I could have handled it, but I’m glad I have the kids I have. I wouldn’t change it in the world.
Comment by Julie — February 28, 2006 @ 3:54 pm