KevinChilds.com

Don’t let the pictures fool you.  They were probably snapped one millisecond before somebody put somebody in a headlock … or somebody slapped somebody and ran for cover.  It’s been that way for 20 years.

Today, March 9, 2010, my twin babies turn 20.  That means:  (A) I am officially a fossil.  (B) Two past decades of sheer joy.   Maybe the novelty of twins distracted us, but I cannot imagine an easier double-set of babies … toddlers … kids … teenagers … young adults to raise.   There haven’t been enough memories of selfishness, accusations of favoritism, drama episodes, or times of disappointment to even register in my brain.

Thank you, Jesus.

I have heard that some sets of twins struggle with establishing individual identity. Such is absolutely not the case with Haddon and Evan Childs  (current obvious both-kids-in-one-blog notwithstanding).    There was never that worry that they ONLY socialized with each other.  They move easily in their own circles.  They effortlessly blame each other, lie for each other, compete with each other, celebrate the other twin’s victories (most of the time).

I remember the moment Polly’s Dr. showed us a sonogram indicating two heartbeats in her womb.  I remember both of them, still in diapers, sneaking into the den in the middle of the night to pull glass ornaments off of our Christmas tree.  She’d pluck them and throw them to him.  He (wearing itty-bitty cowboy boots) stomped them into the carpet.  By the time we awoke, there were “puddles” of crushed ornaments everywhere.  I remember them playing on the same Little League all-star teams, posing on the same night for prom pictures, and arguments with each other that made me laugh so hard I almost peed my pants.

Both are beautiful, bright, and athletically gifted.  (I HAVE to meet their real dad someday.)   I couldn’t be prouder of them.  And their depth of character – by a wide margin – is the thing that brings me the most joy.

Happy Birthday, Twin A and Twin B.