Twins

Having twins has been the biggest challenge of my life. Recently, 2 specific things have made me realize just how hard having 2 kids of the same age can be.

We've moved to a ward that meets at 1:00 p.m. That is exactly the time at which I usually put Logan and Taylor down for a nap. It has to be the worst time for church because they get really tired and cranky, I mean REALLY tired and cranky. If I had just ONE kid, I think I could manage to keep them occupied and content. I know because I've done it. But because there's TWO of them, they push each other's buttons, fight over the same toys, kick each other in the head, fight over who will sit on whose lap, etc. And when we have to take ONE out of Sacrament, we actually have to take TWO out.

Having Kendall has been like a breeze of fresh air. Having ONE baby is 10 times less time-consuming than having TWO, as weird as the math might sound. I actually have a social life and some free time now. That is a luxury I never had with TWO babies, when my whole life was centered around them. Occasionally Billy has watched Logan and Taylor so that I could go on a trip with Kendall. Wow, taking ONE car seat around is almost like taking NO car seat. I can get out the door is 5 minutes instead of 10. Piece of cake!

I think that a lof of the challenges we have faced with our kids have been due to the fact that they are twins.
I'm sure siblings that are close in age fight a bunch, but Logan and Taylor can fight A WHOLE BUNCH. Sometimes I feel more like a referee than a mom.
I'm sure having a preemie baby, a poor eater, or a poor sleeper can be hard, but multiply that by TWO and now it's 10 times harder because you're operating on no sleep and frustrations come easily.

But having TWO kids also means DOUBLE the kisses, DOUBLE the cuddling times, DOUBLE the love! All the hard work and hard times have paid off, with interests! As I watch Logan and Taylor play together, I cannot imagine life without one or the other. They are a huge blessing in my life. And thanks to them, I am learning to be more patient, more tolerant, and more easy-going every day. I hope that every day I spend with them brings me closer to being a better mom (although I know there are days when I take multiple steps back). I hope I can be a parent they look up to as they get older. I hope I can be a parent they can talk to when they feel alone. But no matter what, I know they'll always have each other to look after and talk to. They'll be best friends forever, BFF!