Just Like Me
The Challenges of Being a Preteen TwinBy Carma Haley Shoemaker
Being a parent is a difficult, but rewarding job. With the right support system, being a parent of a preteen or a twin or a set of preteen twins can be twice as nice and just as rewarding. "Rearing twins is hard," says Kohl. "I had the help of a very supportive and hard-working husband and my parents. Still, I needed the support of other women who had gone through the same experience. [The National Organization of Mothers of Twins Clubs] gave me moral support and advice, which I still use to this day. I think that anyone, in any stage of rearing these precious people, should investigate the Mothers of Twins Clubs."
Dos and Don'ts of Parenting a Preteen Pair
According to Susan Kohl, author of Twin Stories: Their Mysterious and Unique Bond, following a few simple guidelines can help in parenting preteen twins. - Encourage twins to cultivate their distinct personalities and interests.
- Spend time with each twin individually and separately.
- Acknowledge each twin's individual accomplishments.
- Plan at least one visit to the Twins Days Festival in Twinsburg, Ohio.
- Celebrate their unique and wondrous bond.
- Label your children as "the twins" or blend their names together to form one name (such as Rhonannie for Rhonda and Annie).
- Always compare them to one another.
- Give them the good twin/bad twin scenario.
- Limit them to activities in which they both must take part or participate.
- Treat them differently from other siblings.
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