How to Enjoy Grandparenting Twins

At first look learning how to enjoy grand parenting twins seem a sizable task. If you have always experienced the arrival of your grandchildren the old fashioned way, one at a time, then having two arrive at once can be a bit of a shocker. If you are waiting for the predicted arrival of twins or they have recently arrived, then it's time to prepare for the wonderful world of difference that this double whammy will provide.

First try to wrap your mind around what a unique experience this really is. Unless you have had twins in your family before, you just really can't imagine how challenging having two babies to care for at a time can really be. Just let yourself linger over the simple math of the situation for a few minutes and you can begin to unravel. All the basic elements that are part of daily baby care have to be multiplied by two. You can't just feed a baby or give a baby a bath or rock a fussy baby to sleep. Whatever you have done before in caring for one grand baby now has to doubled. The result is that things never seem to be totally done and loose ends abound. Just when one is finished eating, or being changed or cleaned, that's right, now the other baby is making his or her needs known.

For grandparents who want to be of help this actually can be a good thing. While helping with one grandchild can sometimes make you feel a little intrusive, helping with two grandchildren will make you feel like the Red Cross saving someone from a disaster that is about to happen. Rarely will parents of twin babies turn away your help, your suggestions or really any support you can offer.

From day one being the grandparents of twins means being prepared for a truly unique experience in your life. Like getting married or your first trip to Disney World having twin grandchildren is a marvelously unique experience and one that you are unlikely to repeat . It doesn't matter whether they are identical or fraternal, male, female or mixed they are twins and they will experience life in a truly unique way. As the grandparent you get a ringside seat to watch and savor each amazing twist and turn of their interactive lives. Hallmark may not have a card for this one.

As much as their lives will connect at oh so many junctures, your grand twins are and will continue to be two very separate human beings. So grand parenting twins also means being ready to greet and encourage your twins as the distinctly gifted and talented individuals they truly are. Even as you delight in their sameness of looks, expressions, reactions and sounds don't be mislead. Beneath that exterior are also different emotions, talents, learning styles, and tastes. Twins aren't human ditto's. You can see how cute they are dressed in matching outfits but make sure to marvel at how differently they often approach life's little challenges like those peas on their tray, moving objects in their way or avoiding bedtime.

So when your son or daughter calls for help, and they will, you can be ready and enter without fear. Just remember the three most basic observations about grand parenting twins:recognizing the size of the task, marveling at the similarity of two little beings and finally responding to the uniqueness of each of your grandchildren with well matched doses of grandparent love. Grand parenting twins is not meant to be easy, but It is a joy like no other - times two. Enjoy!