Twins Do Something Heartwarming. And The Reason Can Make You Cry
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A mom of twins once said to me, “They are such good company for each other. It is fun to watch them play their make believe games and role play characters. They are different, but very close to each other.” Secretly, I also wished for twins when I was expecting but then again the words double trouble seemed to flash in front of me, so, I’m glad I had only one bun in the oven.
Raising twins, I reckon, is no mean feat. But then raising my little bunny is not simple either! Moms who have been through the experience often say that it gets better after six months (or does it?)
A recent video captures the unbreakable bond of twins. Newborn twins were undergoing ‘The Baby Spa’ – a gentle method of easing babies into their new surroundings with warm water and calming music – left me teary eyed and I blew my nose in my handkerchief. The two cuddly minions didn’t even realize they were out of the womb and were clinging to each other tight, rather reminiscent of the popular TV advert, Fevicol ka mazboot jodd!
For those not familiar with Mahabharata, let me offer a bit of mythological trivia; sibling love runs deep like that of Dhristadyumna and Draupadi, who emerged together from the fires hand in hand. It is said that twins are aware of each other in the womb itself and begin their close interaction before they see daylight!
This relationship that begins in utero certainly gets stronger as the babies grow together. After sharing a room, I mean womb, for nine months and coming into the world together, it’s only natural for twins to have a strong attachment to each other.
When they leave the womb, it’s always one before the other. This separation can be stressful because they are so used to each other’s presence. Keeping twins or multiples close to each other after birth helps regulate their breathing and heart rhythm that in turn explains the clinging. But it’s not always bear hugs and love. Twins are also observed to be fighting for space in utero, and that’s likely to happen after they step out as well.
As they are growing, they may develop their secret way of communication. Idioglossia or the secret twin language has been a subject of interest among experts for decades. The well-documented case of the Kennedy twins in 1979 in the United States is a classic example; wherein the twins spoke in a language that sounded like gibberish even to their parents. The twin talk is akin to the code language of spies that makes no sense to the outside world except to the ones who are using it. In developed countries, reports claim that up to 40 percent of twins will have idioglossia but it often disappears as they grow older.
So if you are expecting twins or are already mom to the little cronies, then don’t be alarmed when you hear them babbling to one another. Identical twins are more likely to develop this sort of speech pattern. A mom says, “At times, one of the twins spoke words that I didn’t understand. If I asked my other daughter what the first one had said, she was able to explain it to me properly! But I was never alarmed by this. Now that the girls are three-and-a-half years old, their speech is crystal clear.”
So always be on your guard, mom, as the twins could easily turn the tables on you. People assume it’s easy for parents to tell identical twins apart, but that’s not always the case. New moms have often faced tough challenges when it comes to feeding and at times ended up feeding one baby twice! Lockets or bracelets with name tags (in case the two were to get lost in a carnival) may come handy. But as with any siblings, their relationship can be close at one time or super distant, or anything in between. So take it as it comes!
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