We all have that one pivotal moment in our life where everything changes in a moment. For me, it was August 2015. It was one of those mornings where it was already 80 degrees in New York City by 9 a.m. and the city smells, well quite honestly, like a toilet. My severely nauseated brain was trying to process the information that had just hit us. We were pregnant and having twins.
Spoiler alert, I am an identical twin. My sister is my best friend, my confidant, my soulmate. I absolutely love being a twin. But never in my wildest dreams did I think I would have identical twins myself. I was overwhelmed and scared out of my mind. “Doesn’t it skip a generation?” my husband and I asked the doctor. She shrugged. We took a deep breath and dove in.
So now, I sit here on the precipice of my girls turning 4 this month. The end of an area. The end of toddlerhood. The past 4 years and 9 months have been a wild ride. I have unquestionably experienced my highest highs and lowest lows. Levels of exhaustion I never knew were possible while simultaneously experiencing the strongest love I’ve ever felt.
Raising twin babies is TOUGH. Raising twin toddlers, arguably even harder. But here we are, and our heads are slowly emerging from underwater. (Well, for now, I’m not yet ready to envision our teenage years). We even got cocky enough to add another to our pack. Thankfully he is the calm to their storm. However, one thing above all is for certain, these two little wild things have quite literally changed my heart.
So my sweet girls, as you finish your toddler years and enter these pivotal years of childhood, here is my wish:
Stay wild, but be kind.
Speak up for yourself, but always remember to listen.
Embrace your “twin-ship” but establish your own identity.
Keep dancing, but never allow yourself to be pushed around.
Strong is beautiful. Self-worth is everything. And never let anyone dull your sparkle.
Happy birthday Charlotte and Grace. Thanks for making me a mama. I love you for eternity.
