The other day, Vivian told me that some of her friends have been arguing at recess. Being a good mother, I accused Vivi of being involved. After all, I’ve seen her and her brother go at it in some UFC mini-matches.
“I wasn’t, Mom. Honestly,” she pleaded. “I just tried to stay out of the way.”
I looked at her.
“Well, first I tried to help them get along,” she said. “But then one of them said I was taking sides, so I said, ‘I’m not taking sides. I just want you to get along.’”
“Did it work?” I asked.
“Once it did,” Vivian said. “The other time it didn’t, so I just found someone else to play with that recess.”
“Wow,” I said, my surprise evident. “You handled that well. You know, being a twin has likely helped you solve these types of problems.”
Vivian looked at me like I was crazier than usual.
“You and William have always had to share,” I said. “Even in the womb. And you and Will have a lot of disagreements with each other, and you’re the same age. So it makes sense that you know how to try to resolve these types of fights.”
Vivian nodded and smiled. “Being a twin also helps us read minds,” she said.
~
Send help. Our two monsters have turned on their own Dr. Frankenstein.
~
I’m curious:
Where are you in your family’s birth order?
Did you fight with your siblings when you were young?
I have one brother, two years younger, and we fought constantly when we were kids, mostly over real estate in the back seat of the car. But we’re good friends now. Best of luck with the mind readers.
I can only hope Vivian and William will be good friends. I think it’s headed in that direction…
I am the youngest and was always the butt of my siblings’ jokes. Once when I was 4, my sister (aged 14) did my nails and when she was finished told me that I would have to sit still for two days because that’s how long it took for nailpolish to dry. My brother (9 at the time), overheard this, laughed his head off and the two of them disappeared, leaving me sitting there, stunned.
Hilarious. Reminds me of my brother telling me there were alligators in the toilet and they’d bite my butt if I sat down when I peed. I learned to squat.
Oh you are so wonderfully funny – this has made my evening!
Thanks, J!
I was an only child. I had no one to blame when something was broken/missing/not done. It was a little quiet around our house, as you might imagine. At least there were a lot of kids in the neighborhood to play with!
Only children have always seemed more mature to me… Is that accurate, do you think?
I used to have to rescue my younger brother all the time. Now he is bigger, taller and faster. And hotter. He’s on his own. 😉
Hotter than you? Nah!
Yum.
Being the youngest of four, I had my way paved.
Yes, I hear you. I too had my way paved.
I had one (2 years) younger brother. We never got along. I wouldn’t say we are “friends” now, but at least we don’t fight like we did when we were kids!
I think 2 years is an age difference filled with childhood fights. That’s what my mom says!
Your Vivian’s a riot! Look how much tanner you are in the second photo. And all baby. Lookin’ good!
I’m the first-born of two, and my sister and I fought regularly until we were adults.
I can tell you’re the first born! 🙂 (That’s a compliment!)
I love it…being a twin helps us read minds….
Being a twin MOM also helps us read minds.
Oh, and you looked awesome preggo! Seriously, I looked like I swallowed myself. The last ‘belly’ shot we took at 34 weeks was seriously wrong…
Ha. So true about twin moms. And all moms likely.
And I didn’t look so awesome in the ankle department…
So that reading minds trick could be very useful! They’ll excel at any profession they choose if they make good use of the skill.
I’m second child, out of nine. I fought a lot with my younger sister. A lot. And when my older sister turned into a “teen” and stopped playing house and dress-up and dolls with me, we fought a lot. And throughout my career as an older sister I’ve had to stop daily fights between siblings. Either that or grab some popcorn and watch them have a go at it. 😉
So you not only play basketball, but you referee (sibling fights)? You rock, Ellie!
Woah. Did you need crutches to stand up?!? I’m impressed by the mind-reading and that belly. I’m the middle child of five. Most stereotypes apply ;), but we’ve never been big on arguing. Could be a Minnesota-nice thing.
I didn’t move very quickly…but I could float forever in a pool. I outgrew my maternity bathing suit though…
I’m the oldest. My brother and I are 16 months apart. I always won….well until he turned 14.
Wow, that’s close.
I am 4 of 5 and probably 6, raised as an only child with multiple half-siblings mostly on my father’s side.
Did I mention I didn’t know about my older sister (on my Mother’s side) until I was in my mid-thirties and then actually met her in my early 40’s? Boy was that a weird day at the airport. I am going to visit her next month for about a day, then on to a day in New York where one of my half brothers might be, but I’m not planning on it just as a form of emotional protection.
Wow, M! I didn’t know. I’m cautiously excited for you!
I have noticed that my twins are learning to share pretty early…because they’re forced to by their mean mother. Btw, you looked like you hardly gained any weight in your picture..all belly. Although, I got huge, I have to say that I had the same expression on my face at 37 weeks…
I gained over 60 lbs, but mostly belly. And none in the first trimester. I look totally “done” in that picture, which I likely was in 100F and 90% humidity.
Oh yes, and in answer to your question; I’m the oldest of ten kids. Did we fight? Do moms of twins make the best humorists?
Ha. I bet!
I am the oldest and fought with my sister (one of my best friends) all the time!
I’m not at all surprised that you’re the oldest, Susie! 😉
And an Aries!
A born leader…
I’m the second oldest of seven kids – one older brother, another brother, and four sisters. All of us one year apart.
We were the kids NO ONE wanted to babysit for! I’m pretty sure mom had to pay danger AND combat pay to the sitters.
We literally had each other in “stitches” a lot of the time! hehehe
Oh, and before Inspector Gadget, my dad’s arm could reach all the way to the very back of the station wagon (from the front seat), and smack us on the head! How is that even possible??
“Danger and combat pay”: fab analogy! Love your dad’s arm image too.
I’m the oldest of four siblings: 1 brother and then 2 sisters. I left home at 16 (last hear of high school) when my parents got transferred to Great Falls, MT from California and I stayed there. Up until that time, we got along fairly well with but a few bumps in the road. One of my sisters has been gone now for a long time and I still miss her. Each of us is spaced four years apart so that does make it a bit easier.
It must be devastating to lose a sibling. I’m a bit of an afterthought myself, but I get along very well with my older two siblings.
Whew! My daughter is the eldest of three (I have Irish triplets) and she is preparing for a career at the U.N., which is to say often interfering and rarely fixing whatever is wrong. Your Vivian, on the other hand, appears to have figured it out already. And I loved the pictures above! Go Atticus.
Thanks, El. Wow. Triplets indeed with three pregnancies. Maybe our daughters will run the UN…
Yes, they will. Mine is already nicknamed POTUS.
i had boy and girl twins and their parents come in for open house to meet me, and that was the first thing i asked them.
it’s still a running joke.
they also run track, so, that’s a lot of fitness via running.
tell them to use their gift for evil not good.
Ha. At least you didn’t ask them if they’re identical…
I have a twin brother, and a brother 3 years younger. The two of them always fought and I was the peace keeper. As for reading minds…bwaaa-hahahaha!
Oh, and he was just under 7 lbs at birth, and I was just over 7 lbs. Mom never let us forget.
Ouch. I carried 13 lbs of baby. I think another pound might have done me in!
Love the pictures! I’m the oldest of two. My brother and I annoyed each other equally. In fact, we still do. Some things never change.
Yes. My brother and I still tease each other, though it’s mostly a battle of wits.
Gosh, Leanne – your 37-week picture looks like my normal pictures. Oh, well.
My older sister was a bit passive, so we always got along. My little sister and brother were too much younger for much fighting. Besides, they all just naturally looked up to my wisdom. (My sister doesn’t read this, does she?)
Ha. You made me laugh on two counts, David!
I am the oldest and my poor younger brother grew up in my shadow. It actually made him stronger because he had to work to create his own path. It was so easy to just follow me and what I did but dance wasn’t very cool in Texas for a boy. Not to mention, I’m not built for football. I do think having more than one child is great for helping them to learn resolution. I unfortunately can only have one so my daughter will learn to get along with animals! Great post!
I love only children, though. I don’t think they need conflict resolution. The only children I’ve known have looked shocked when they watch Vivian and William argue and they start peacekeeping naturally.
My brother and I are 14 months apart; with him being older. And we were great until high school rolled around. At that time he was merely 6’3 and 235 pounds, I have still not grown since my 7th grade and I stand at 5’2 and 120 pounds. He was a hockey player, i was a dancer– he liked to check me into lockers, I liked running away the moment I saw him.
You know…
You had to be quick if you were half his weight! Wow. My brother is tall (6’4′) but at 5’10” I liked to pretend I could hold my own.
You are a HOT pregnant lady, Leanne! That belly looks downright painful in the summer though… I’m glad you had a pool.
Crazy birth order happens in divorcing families. I was the youngest, then the only, then the middle. But I’m told that I act like the oldest. LOL…
You are an oldest in spirit! And that belly was the hottest thing I’ve ever experienced…
First of all, I love the fact that you’re wearing the same dress in both photos! Look at how gorgeous you are and so thin. With twins!!
I was the youngest and yes, we fought. Still do. But we can’t read minds. 😉
The magic dress. It just kept getting substantially shorter (and was only donned for monthly photos).
I have one brother who is 4 years younger than I am, and of course we fought constantly. Mostly because my mom always told me to just “ignore him”. Seriously? Have YOU ever tried to ignore a 4 year-old brother with ADD? Impossible. Now we get along fabulously (mostly because he finally realized that I do, indeed, have all the answers….) Oh, and I also had 3 older step-brothers I spent my summers with. Which is why I’m such a bada$#.
Ha. Lots of boys in your growing-up times!
Hmm.. I’m an only child. Maybe I’m really bad at resolving conflict and I didn’t actually know! Definitely no mind reading skills, that’s for sure.
I think you’re likely better at conflict resolution, actually.
Reading minds. Love it!
🙂
Are your twins beginning to look like the kids from that movie Village of the Damned? You may be in trouble.
Send hel…p….
Being that tan and gorgeous at 37 weeks pregnant (with twins!) shouldn’t be allowed!
I’m the baby…and the favorite…it’s a lot of pressure. 😉 My brother and sister and I fought like crazy, but were friends by the time I turned 15 – once they moved out and went to college!
We sound like we had similar roles in our families. My sister is 6y older, my brother 8y older than me.
Love the photos – you look amazing and I love pregnant bellies. I loved mine, even when I couldn’t see my toes.
I’m the oldest – my brother was 5 years younger and we fought like mad for many, many years. I was well into my 20’s before we found some common ground – am so happy we did, because he lived with DH and I for two years, shortly before he passed away.
Adopted at birth, I am also the oldest among my four half-sisters: R is a year younger, M, two years behind her. L. is 25 now and M. is 23.
Man, I’m old.
I’m pretty sure I’m older.
I didn’t know your brother had lived with you. Wow. Literally an empty space. Hugs, Liz.
I’m pretty lucky with my “family order”. I have two older brothers, but as they’re much older (like +11 and +15) they’ve always looked after me as a little princess like me deserved, instead of figthing and yelling. At 12 I became auntie of a precious girl, it was like having a little sister. Now she’s 17 and I have nightmares.