I'll give it a C , but I am glad I read it.
Identical twin sisters Nancy Sipes, PhD (MCB) and Janna Sipes JD, wanted to write a book for us about what it's like being a twin. Dancing Naked In Front of the Fridge
They call a twin a "built in comparative study" of your self (pg 65).
They recognized as children that they were the center of attention, especially as babies, because one baby is cute, but two...even more cute. I have noticed that, we do get alot of ohs and ahhs on walks. Except at Baby-r-Us, no one notices us there.
I feel most of the book was for identical twins, and alot of their issues were in establishing an identity. One concern was that twins were soon type-cast, in an effort for an outsider to tell them apart, and they would trained into the role that they were type cast. Which later put stress on the twin-relationship when they grew/changed/deviated from their stereotype.
And there was a bit too much NewAge references. Hippies
Most of the twins interviewed loved being a twin. It was like a built in friend, experiencing growing up with you. Every night was a slumber party (hehe, Mr. G & Miss S do this, stand in their cribs and talk to each other after we put them to bed. I suspect Miss S stands until she falls over from exhaustion.)
"Sharing was about having someone else there to enjoy and enhance the moment. Everyone knows that many pleasures are amplified and many unpleasant experiences are more bearable in the presence of another." pg 212 But I have to say, currently, they are a lot quicker to share something with a parental, then with a sibling. But this morning, Mr. G did give a Cheerio to Miss S.
I hope that Mr. G & Miss S are best of friends forever.
Some issues, warnings to me...
Identical gifts...in an effort to not show favoritism, leads to not valuing individuality.
Type casting...in an effort to distinguish, make sure that I don't label one of my children "the leader" or "the messy one" or "the musician" or "the shy one".... I guess it's OK to say that Mr. Grunty is "the boy" and Miss Squeaky is "the girl".
Don't get between twins in a fight...they are quick to anger with each other, but just as quick to forgive and forget.
Don't be jealous of the special relationship the twins have. And it's OK if sometimes they go off into their own little world with each other.
Posted by joncim at July 9, 2008 09:34 PM