The ABCs of Raising Twins

As a mother of two sets of fraternal boy/girl twins, I am often asked, "How do you do it?" I do not have an answer. I am just a regular 27 year old who has never known it any other way. Most people come home from the hospital with one baby. I , however, always seem to come out with a pair. Through my experiences, I feel that there is no such answer. Each child is a unique gift with their own personality, likes, dislikes, and own sense of self. I have no master plan. I deal with each moment as it comes and try to remember that these are the best days of my life. There are moments, I must admit, that I feel like my day will never end and my own personal identity is withering away. A smile or hug from my children washes this feeling away. I am a mother chosen for this great adventure and I press on.

For your reading pleasure, I have listed my ABC's of Twin Motherhood. Enjoy!

A ? Advice. Upon egg fertilization, you have become a target of every woman who has given birth. Remember that all these bits of information come with good intentions. You may be surprised at what you'll learn.

B ? Bottles. Give your baby a bottle, and in minutes, you will find a baby and no bottle. Bottles have an invisibility power that only weakens as milk starts to clabber.

C ? Carpet. Remember it like it was. Tell all of your friends that having a recliner in the middle of your living room floor is "in" this season.

D ? Diapers. This one's a no-brainer. Clip those coupons and buy in bulk.

E ? Energy. Your little bundles of joy come heavily equipped. You, on the other hand, will question your ability to breathe.

F ? Fingerprints. You will have twenty on every wall, window and mirror around. Good news! They're a fast and easy cleanup.

G ? Grandma. She's the ultimate spoiler. Did she really raise you?

H ? Housecleaning. Accept that while raising twins, your house cannot stay clean for intervals exceeding ten minutes.

I - Ice packs. Paired up with a kiss, it's just what the mommy ordered.

J - Jumbo. If it comes in jumbo size, that's the way we mothers of twins buy it.

K ? Kisses. There's nothing better than kisses from your little ones. They even come in a variety of flavors. Chocolate and dirt are two of the most common.

L ? Laughter. Try to laugh at your daily mishaps. Will your children really remember the time you tried to feed them cheerios in a bottle?

M ? Mother. You are no longer your mother's daughter. You are now her clone.

N ? Nights. You will experience many sleepless nights the first few months of your twins' arrival. Weren't sleepless nights much more fun in college?

O ? Offerings. Offer your significant other the opportunity to spend quality time with the little darlings. Run to the nearest spa! (Keep cell phone handy)

P - Potty Training. Good Luck!

Q - Quiet. In the rare instance that children are simultaneously sleeping, savor the quiet.

R - Remember. Remember these days. You will one day wonder how it happened so fast.

S - Sacrifice. Who wanted to go out for a night on the town anyway?

T ? Terrible Two's. Be brave and remember these are your children and you love them. Their behavior is a force of nature and uncontrollable.

U ? Utility Room. Now you know why they make Super Capacity Plus machines.

V - Voices. No, you're not crazy. There really are little people saying your name over and over again.

W - Whisper. Teach everyone in the house this technique for keeping babies asleep.

X - Xtras. Two extra people to love and love you back.

Y - Young. Keep smiling. Your babies are keeping you young at heart.

Z - Zzz's - Try to catch some. Tomorrow starts early.

Michelle Marsh is the mother of two sets of boy/girl twins. She is the proud owner of Twin Gifts & Invitations. Subscribe to her free online newsletter at http://www.twingiftsandinvitations.com

efficient cleaning crew Northbrook ..
In The News:

Chinese hackers used Anthropic's Claude AI to launch autonomous cyberattacks on 30 organizations worldwide, marking a major shift in cybersecurity threats.
Apple's new Sleep Score feature gives you a rating for your nightly rest quality. Learn how to set it up on your Apple Watch and iPhone today.
Essential phone settings to enable before losing your device, including Find My network, location services and security features for iPhone and Android.
The Fox News AI Newsletter gives readers the latest AI technology advancements, covering the challenges and opportunities AI presents.
Cybersecurity research shows weak passwords remain a major threat, with simple patterns and number sequences putting millions of accounts at risk.
New Android malware BankBot YNRK silences phones, steals banking data and drains crypto wallets automatically. Learn how this advanced threat works.
FDA approves first human trial for Paradromics' brain-computer interface that could restore speech for paralyzed patients through neural technology.
New phishing platform QRR targets Microsoft 365 users across 1,000 domains in 90 countries. Learn how to spot fake login pages and protect your accounts.
OpenTable now uses AI to track your dining habits and share insights with restaurants. Learn what data they collect and how to protect your privacy.
Google's discontinued Nest thermostats still secretly upload home data to company servers despite losing smart features, raising serious privacy concerns.
New Android malware NGate steals NFC payment codes in real-time, allowing criminals to withdraw cash from ATMs without your card. Learn protection tips.
DoorDash confirms data breach exposing customer names, emails, addresses after social engineering attack. Learn how to protect yourself from scams.
Concerned about Google's AI scanning your Gmail? Learn how to disable Gemini features that access your emails, Drive files and Chat messages for privacy.
Google warns Android users about dangerous fake VPN apps hiding malware that steals passwords, banking details and personal data from phones and tablets.
Apple's digital passport feature lets iPhone users breeze through TSA checkpoints this holiday season using Digital ID technology at 250+ airports.
A new phishing scam targets family photos with fake "Cloud Storage Full" alerts. Criminals steal credit card information through fake sites. Learn protection tips.
South Korean scientists create ultra-thin fabric muscles that turn clothes into robotic assistants, lifting 33 pounds while weighing under half an ounce.
Archer Aviation has acquired Hawthorne Airport for $126M to launch an LA air taxi network ahead of the 2028 Olympics, featuring AI-powered eVTOL operations and next-gen aviation tech.
Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
Fake AI apps disguised as "ChatGPT" and "DALLĀ·E" are flooding app stores with dangerous malware that steals data and monitors users without detection.
Fake buyers demand specific vehicle reports from unknown sites to steal credit card information from car sellers, but warning signs can help identify these scams before paying.
Android users can now manage apps across multiple devices more easily with Google Play Store's updated remote uninstall button in the latest update.
NASA's Perseverance rover discovers shiny metallic rock on Mars that could be a meteorite from an ancient asteroid, containing high levels of iron and nickel.
Holiday scams spike during Black Friday and Cyber Monday as criminals exploit your leaked personal data. Learn how to protect yourself from fake stores and phishing.
Commerce Department proposes TP-Link router ban over Chinese security risks. Learn how this potential prohibition could affect your home network and devices.

Adolescence - Clues and Advice

Be sure to respect the intellectual changes that mark adolescence.... Read More

How to Talk to Your Kids About Suicide: New Study Says it May Make Them Less Likely to Consider It!

This year alone, 1,600 teenagers aged 15 to 19 will... Read More

Over-Indulgence And Over-Attentiveness - Two Dangers Parents Must Avoid!

We're all familiar with the over-indulgent parent. But there's another... Read More

?Mommy, I Can?t Sleep!?: Sleep Disturbance in Children

Oh Please, Don't Say Maybe!!!!Are you often a participant in... Read More

Aquini Potty Training Dolls - A Great Tool For Potty Training!

Corolle Paul or Emma Drink-and-Wet SET potty dollsThis is the... Read More

How To Live With Your Teenagers Untidy Room

'Whose room is it anyway?'If you have a teenager, you're... Read More

How to Create an Attitude of Cooperation

Having been a parent educator and a PBS consultant for... Read More

Keeping Your Children Safe

The purpose of this article is to address some of... Read More

How To Foster An Environment For Successful Communications With Your Child

As parents, we strive to address all of the questions... Read More

Diet Sodas And How They Can Affect Kids

Many of us have grown up drinking caffeinated diet sodas... Read More

Character Education

Every parent wants their child to develop positive character traits.... Read More

Starting School - What Age Should Children Begin School?

"What age should my child start school?"This is a common... Read More

Helping Your Child Make and Keep Friends

What Children Look for in a Friend?Is this child fun... Read More

Teaching Reading : Part Two

We know that you want your little guy or gal... Read More

How to Foster a Love of Reading and Writing in Your Child

The key to lifelong learning is reading and writing. When... Read More

The Better Behavior Wheel - A New Kind of Calm in the Family

There's a new kind of fun and calm out there... Read More

Back to School Care Packages!

I am crying tears of joy mixed with great sadness... Read More

Im a Father, Doesnt Anyone Care?

The snow was getting heavier with each lift of the... Read More

14 Romantic Time-Outs for Parents

Here are fourteen spontaneous time-outs, specially designed to help you... Read More

How to Silence Your Childs Inner Critic

Children do what feels good to them and follow their... Read More

Because Every Child Is A Born Genuis

Graphology for Child development.:- Graphology is the science of understanding... Read More

The Top 10 Tips on Hiring a Babysitter

1. Encourage your babysitter by keeping their favorite foods/snacks on... Read More

Parenting Your Teenager: How to Build Trust

``Mom, can I go to the mall with my friend... Read More

Surviving as a Single Parent

Emotional OverloadMany single parents say they deal with a variety... Read More

Simple Tricks To Help You And Your Kids To Find Friends

One of the most prevalent problems of the computer age... Read More

cleaning lady near Wilmette ..