Moms of Multiples

Despite feeling like I have the most impossible children in the world sometimes, I recognize that I have it pretty easy. I face no special challenges or particular obstacles. My kids can be enormous pains the the asses, but as kids go, they are really pretty easy. I have the utmost respect for my friends who parent gracefully when faced with challenges like special needs, severe allergies or single parenthood. I really just can’t imagine what it would be like to have that added stress.

My friends who have multiples, however, ignite an entirely different reaction in me. I can imagine what it would be like to have multiples of any of my children and honestly… the thought fucking terrifies me.

When Evan is having a tantrum, it takes all of my might not to get in his face and scream at him just as ridiculously as he is screaming at me. If there were two of him? God help me. The sound of Ben whining trumps any other annoying sound I have ever heard in my entire life. If I were to hear a similar sound coming out of two mouths at once? I’m not sure I would make it. And, just flashing forward to more than one Lily suffering through adolescence is one of the more horrifying thoughts I’ve ever had.

Now, I know that twins and triplets and all multiples have entirely different personalities and you aren’t merely cloning one child. Of course. But, it’s still the same age and stage times two. Or, three. Or, God forbid, four. Pairs of newborns up all night screaming. Multiple terrible twos. Numerous fresh fours. Teenage years on steroids. I probably ended up with singletons because the forces that be knew it was all I could handle. It’s definitely all I can handle.

Seriously, moms of multiples, I don’t know how you all do it. I suppose along with the double drama and double tantrums and double sleeping trouble, come double the first smiles and laughs and kisses and that makes it all worth it. Of course, it makes it all worth it.

I just hope you’re having double the drinks at cocktail time. You’ve certainly earned them.