Loading...
Times Advocate, 1991-07-31, Page 17SPFCL4L FFLATIJRF Double the work, double the joy: Times -Advocate, July 31 1991 Page 17 By Rhonda Vandeworp Ies impossible to avoid. When a passerby in the mall spots a two -seat stroller, the eyes bug out, the mouth drops to the floor, and questions begin to be hurled left and right. What do the parents make of this mall scene? Or more importantly, what do the twins think of this added attention? Some parents are thrilled with the idea of having identical children, and enjoy dressing the two alike in matching outfits. Other par - EXETER - Although Kim and Kelly arc fraternal twins and not identical, their long, red hair still occasionally confuses friends, neighbours, and relatives. The Campbell sisters do not try to emphasize their physical simi- larities. In fact, they fail to see the ents attempt to avoid "the twin" stereotype, by encouraging people to call the children by their names, and by separating them into two classes at school. Theories concerning raising twins are nu- merous, but the fact remains, bearers of sin- gletons are intrigued with the prospect of hav- ing two babies at one time, and will forever bombard the "lucky" ones with questions in the produce section of the grocery store. novelty of their situation. Kelly and Kim refuse to wear matching clothes, and they have not tried switching classes because they thought this traditional twin prank was a "dumb idea." "I stopped dressing them alike when they were five because that's MIN IMMO ail, 111111111111 Mr NM IVO Molt -, 10, T,: rt Kelly and Kim Campbell show off their two greatest loves: Detroit Tigers baseball and television's remote control. CORBETT - Since Judy and Janet were born near the end of the line of thirteen children, they were not concerned with being classi- fied as, "the twins." To them it was only a nickname which slowly wore off after the two sisters quit wearing the same outfits. "Mom didn't force dressing alike on us, but we didn't mind doing it to a point. You want your own identity some days, but being a twin is also part of your identity," explains Janet. Judy and Janet confess that since childhood they have always been a close, sibling duo. For them it was comfortable knowing the other would be there to play, and to team -up against the eleven single- tons. "You can't help but be best friends," says Janet. "There was not enough money for two of everything so you learn to share better, and you always have com- pany." Janet and Judy's close friendship survived through high school. Wanting to date the same boys was never an issue, and even though they both had their own "best friends," the deep, dark se- crets were always saved for the other sister. Marriage inevitably changed this special bond. They now have hus- bands with whom they confide, and families that demand their at- tention, They continue to visit one another, and often go boating or take holidays with each other's families, but as Judy explains in a joking manner, "We're just sisters when they wanted to stop," ex- plains their mother, Sandra. She also admits she asked the school to separate her two daughters in the second grade so they could devel- op on their own, meet new friends, and avoid comparisons. Kim and Kelly appreciate this decision. "If we're not in the same class, we do not have the same friends. I think it's better that way," says Kim. "We like the same people, but often do things separately." Although Kim and Kelly do not dwell on the fact that they are twins, the sisters are "very close if no one interferes," says Sandra. They are addicted to the same soap operas, listen to the same music, idolize the same Detroit Tiger's player, and walk uptown together every night for a popsicle. "We like the same stuff, we just act differently," explains Kim. "Kelly's more outgoing. She will go up and talk to people we don't know. She's definitely not shy." For Kelly and Kim the novelty of being a twin wore off when they were five. They appreciate each other's companionship and loyalty as a close sister, but also enjoy their ability to portray themselves as in- dividuals. Scott and Brett Weersink attempt a get -away. WOODHAM -"I didn't think two babies would be double the work, but it was double plus," explains Deb Weersink. "Instead of one open pot cupboard, there were two. What one doesn't find the other does." The Weersinks felt prepared for the arrival of their two sons Brett and Scott. The couple knew months in advance Deb was expecting twins, and since the two boys would be the third and fourth child, they felt experienced with di- apers, feedings, and sleepless nights. "You obviously miss out on sleep, but there .are not any more sacrifices than other parents must face," explains Deb. Both parents agree that the ones who had to make the most sacrifices were Brett and Scott's siblings. Kate was three years old at the time of their birth, and Michael was only two. Identical bunnies: Janet Baltessen and Judy Steeper CENTRALIA - For family, the arrival of t too demanding or unmanageable. Since Allyson and Katclyn were born in December, their father, Don, was available to help with the feedings and other tasks because there was no field work at the time. In addition, the twins were not the first two babies that they had raise at one time. Allyson and Katelyn's two older brothers were only ten months apart when the second child was born. All in all, Judy remembers two "realty good babies," but also con- fesses, "It was probably hectic, but you tend to forget over the years." For Katclyn and Allyson the de- sire to be recognized as a twin seems to come and go. They ex- plained that some days they enjoy being dressed alike, but other times they are fed up with people calling them by the wrong name. The two sisters even had mixed feelings about being separated as second graders last fall. Even though they unanimously proclaim that they enjoy being apart from one another in school, they contin- ue to check up on each other at re- cess and at bus time. Their mother has always recog- nized that they were emotionally closer to one another than the two brothers. "If one gets up during the night, so does the other. If one's sick, the other will cry. If one's scolded, the other will cry," Judy says. "Naturally they get a lot more at- tention than a single child," she ex- plains, "but when it's you who has twins, you just think of them as children," she concludes. But !1ke all siblings, Katclyn and Allyson have different hobbits and' interests. Katclyn is described as Jacqueline and Justine Gelinas ZURICH - Jacqueline and Justine Gelinas are identical twins. The two sisters not only look similar, but their hair curls in the same di- rection, and the positioning of their teeth is exactly the same. Their mother, Cheryl, admits the hospital ID bracelets were kept on for a long time following their birth, but even then she occasional- ly caught her husband, Martin, feeding the wrong child. The arrival of the twins appears to have been nothing but joy for Jacqueline and Justine's parents. Cheryl admits she was definitely busier, especially with three other children under the age of five, but the twins co-operated with her de- signed sleeping and sating routine. By the age of six weeks, the two in- being chattier, and loves to play house and dolls, while Allyson en- joys sports and daring adventures. fants were sleeping night. Martin and Cheryl do not oppose their children being called "the twins." They enjoy the fact that they have two daughters to show off, and therefore often dress them in matching outfits. "I enjoy dressing them alike, es- pecially when we go out. I think they're cute. That doesn't mean I'm not flexible to what they want," says Cheryl. The Squire's othcr three children appear to have accepted the two new arrivals to their family with open arms. Cheryl remembers no jealousy, and because they were al- lowed to help look after the babies, they were excited about their twin sisters. through the After the two girls established their own personalities, the novelty of having twins wore off for Judy. "Mike especially hasn't had the attention of a two-year-old," Gerald explains. The parents' free time was cut in half, and the novelty of the twins drew people's attention away from the older children. "They were bombarded with ba- bies, but they accepted them and were very protective of them," says Deb. "In fact, they are now at the stage where they enjoy show- ing off their two baby brothers. Gerald and Deb are making eve- ry effort to help Brett and Scou de- velop their own identities instead of labelling thein "the twins." "I try not to dress them alike. I want them to be individuals, but people automatically see them as one." Deb continues to explain that although Scott has a more di- rect personality, and Breu tends to be more of a thinker, "there is not an aggressive twin or a quiet twin, but instead separate people with unique personalities." Kat lyn and Allyson Squire Ila Dunn and Iva Hatter EXETER - Thanks to modern, ul- tra -sound equipment, today's ex- pecting mothers have a few months to prepare for the arrival of two new-borns instead of one. Unfortu- nately for John and Carrie Willis, this form of modern technology was unavailable when Ila and Iva were born. 1n fact, it was Carrie who informed the doctor that she was going to have two children. "Mother told us the doctor al- ready had one sleeve rolled down, and she said, 'Don't go and clean up. I feel another one coming!" re- members Iva. After an initial shock, their moth- er quickly grew fond of the idea of having two identical babies. In fact, Carrie Willis dressed her two daughters in matching outfits until they were almost twenty years old. The Willis sisters, now Ila Dunn and Iva Hatter, did not mind dress- ing alike, and still occasionally wear the same outfits ,if invited out. Ever since they were children, Dunn and Hauer have been insepa- rable. When they were 16 years old, the twin sisters experienced their•first date together - a double date with the Dunn brothers, Ches- ter and Lawrence.. "I don't think they knew which one they had," Iva explains. "After skating, we went to the car. One brother sat in the back, the other in the front, and they waited for us to join them. Ila did sit with Chester, the one with which she was sup- posed to have gone." The Willis sisters married those two brothers, and later built homes in Exeter. Lawrence Dunn has since passed away, but the two sis- ters continue to live next door to one another, and often shop and dine in each other's company. Although they have always been very close, the sisters do not neces- sarily act or think alike. Ila de- scribes Iva as the mischievious twin, "henry" to be exact. It was Iva who tricked Chester into believ- ing she was his girlfriend being picked up after work. It was Iva who stole the bow out of !la's hair so the teachers would be confused. And it was Iva who caused trouble with the school teacher that terri- fied Ila. Whatever tricks Iva played, how- ever. Ila would never wish to be separated from her twin sister. "We're so close. She's a good friend, one I love very much."