A Double Blessing

Today I am graced with another day with my boys.  Not just any day.  It is their birthday~  My little angels are turning 7 today.

The joy that they have brought to my husband and I cannot be measured or even understood in words, but they can see it when I look into their eyes, thankful that I was chosen to be their mom.  Only when they become parents will they understand that deep valley of love a parent has for their children.

 

God knew what he was doing, as usual, when he blessed my husband and I with twins.  He knew that we would grow and change the way we see the world, just by being their parents.

I remember sitting in our little (and I mean really little – less than 300 square feet little) cottage in Sydney thinking about kids.  I knew I wanted kids before I turned 30 and thought 2 kids would be great.  I was 28.  Soon after we were expecting.

Shortly before returning to the US, my husband were visiting Cairns to go snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef.  On the plane ride back I asked Jeff if he had 2 boys names.  He asked why and I stated, “I don’t know.  I think we just need to come up with two.”

The following morning as I sat waiting for my 20 weeks ultrasound I thought, “How come I am showing more than the others in the waiting room?  Am I farther along?”  Awakening me from my thoughts, the tech called us in.  After looking at the ultrasound she said, “Ugh, you didn’t book 2 appointments.”  We looked at her strangely and then up at the ultrasound.  There were 2 babies on the screen!  My husband and I just laughed and laughed.  I can still remember the feeling and sound of our laughter to this day.

I am so thankful to have twins.  The reasons are a gazillion (if that is even a word).  Perhaps the most profound is that we were able to see these 2 miraculous personalities exist from birth.  They were different from day one.  One looked around bright-eyed, ready for the world while the other focused on doing his own thing.  These personalities have rang true.  Sure they have changed and grown, but the base is still there.

As the boys grew we had to parent them differently – at the same time.  They each needed different things from us, mostly at the same time.  Yes, they shared basics.  They both needed love and care and room to blossom and find their strengths and know boundaries, but how they came to learn those things or how they needed them was (and still is) different.

Being twins they have had opportunities unique to them.  People will tell you that kids cannot share or know empathy at a young age.  For twins, that is life.  They learn early on that life is about more than “me”.  Life is about loving others as much as you love yourself.  It is about sharing.  It is about learning the same thing differently.   It is about waiting your turn.  It is about learning how to do something on your own while somebody else just did it.  It is about being true to who you are and finding your own strengths while celebrating the strengths of others.  It is about creating one’s own timeline.

I have learned that what I believed in one was possible for both.  Every child is a gift and each child has many gifts to share.  I have learned that every child comes here not to learn from us, but to help us grow.

I have learned to be grateful for each moment in the day and that being a parent is the best thing in the world!

Love you Cole!  Love you Dakota!  Happy Birthday!

Much love,

Your Mommy

About The Author

Summer Brackhan

Mom, sociologist, teacher, author, musician, world traveler, parenting and health coach who believes healthy living incorporates body, mind and soul and that life is not about living in little boxes, but experiencing everything at its fullest.

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