"Two babies, One mommy. Both stay, and nobody goes"
Let's recap, I am a twin mom to boy/girl twins and we also have a 5 year old girl and 3 year old boy, sounds easy right? Ha! Being a mother of four is completing crazy, fun and chaotic. However, sometimes I can't help but to think I am being punked and really am a contestant on the reality show The Bachelor or The Bachelorette, the "Momorette" version of course. Can you figure that one out? No? Think I'm crazy? Just hear me out. It hit me the other day when I was "oooing" and "ahhhing" over these two little people just starting back at me like I was the absolute best thing in this world (I can't blame them though, they do have pretty good taste) that the feeling I had going back and forth just had to be what the contestants on the ABC reality show have got to be going through on the infamous 2 on 1 date. Now, not every day do I have these thoughts but as I sat there thinking about how tough it was going back and forth and hoping I wasn't hurting the other ones feelings when I didn't pick him/her up and chose the other twin, or when I would try and juggle both at the same time and sometimes fail miserably and other times would come out on top winning...I began to think of more similarities between life with twins and the show.
The following are just a few of those thoughts....
Top 10 Similarities:
10. Three people, two of which are in the same position and one that has the power to choose.
9. Two of the people rely completely on one person to keep them around.
8. Two of the people spend every moment with each other, but want to be with the third one all of the time.
7. All three cry from time to time, which adds to the daily drama.
6. Wine, coffee and bottles of milk are consumed just about every single day.
5. There is a lot of snuggling and canoodling.
4. Awake until wee hours of the night taking care of someone crying.
3. Former contestants coming on the show to offer advice/parents and/or random strangers offering advice.
2. There are always weird toys used as props trying to win over each other.
1. We know it will be hard and there is more than one person to love but we aren't going to quit.
Top Ten Differences:
10. All three people stay, nobody goes home.
9. There isn't a helicopter, anywhere.
8. No fancy dates. Just sweatpants, burp cloths and coffee.
7. There are no flowers in sight.
6. Chris Harrison is nowhere to be found for help with diaper changes.
5. There aren't any date cards arriving at the door, only diapers and baby formula.
4. There will always be enough roses to go around.
9. There isn't a helicopter, anywhere.
8. No fancy dates. Just sweatpants, burp cloths and coffee.
7. There are no flowers in sight.
6. Chris Harrison is nowhere to be found for help with diaper changes.
5. There aren't any date cards arriving at the door, only diapers and baby formula.
4. There will always be enough roses to go around.
3. The only private concerts we have attended are the ones Hattie and Rhett sing in front of the fire place.
2. Every day is not the most dramatic day ever.
1. All three of us are definitely here for the right reasons.
*Nope, he's not here.*
Okay, but for real during my pregnancy I worried about giving one twin more attention than the other one. I asked other twin moms for advice, reflected on how I divided my attention between our older two children and made all of these plans for how to attack those feelings if and when they come about. Fast forward to bringing the babies home from the hospital. To my surprise, it didn't seem to bother me much at first. I would hold both of them, or one would sleep so I would hold the other or vice versa or they both would be asleep so they would have no idea if I was holing one, both or neither. Now that both babies are awake more during the day, beginning to smile, coo and fuss I am finding those feelings are reappearing in full force. Don't get me wrong here, the babies (as far as I can tell) show zero signs of jealousy or resentment being a whole 2 1/2 months old. However, I can't help but find myself trying to even the score constantly when it comes to spending one on one time with both babies. I will go through phases of practically setting a timer for my snuggle sessions with each baby to make sure I am not favoring one over the other to spending a majority of my time with my face planted right in front of theirs staring right back at me or holding both in my lap and bouncing kisses back and forth between their sweet little heads. I am sure these feelings will come and go forever and there will be times I am putting the pressure on myself to keep things even between not only the twins, but all four children. There will be times when my kids even verbalize to me when they are in need of my attention more than their siblings. Being a parent is the one of the most amazing things God has given us. Having these little people absolutely love and adore every single thing about you without any judgement makes my world a happier place. I am the luckiest to continue to share my heart and snuggles in four ways for these little people every moment of the day.
