Growing up with someone by your side that literally HAS to be with you at all times comes with its positives and negatives. While it's great that there is someone constantly by your side that shares your humor and inside jokes, it can also be hard to deal with the stereotypes and purely dumb questions that come with being a twin. Yes, we have similar features. No, we are not the same person.

In my personal experience, my twin sister and I grew up participating in the same sports and activities, having similar friend groups and generally excelling in the same subjects in school. We both love learning and everything about education, but we still have our differences—for example, I would never voluntarily be a tenth-grade English teacher like my sister yearns to be, but hey, to each their own, right? Having a twin sister can be a lot of fun, but we are just like any other siblings, and many arguments and fights ensue daily.

Here are 5 twin-related things that my sister and I hear constantly that will forever agitate and annoy us:

1. Are you guys related?

Great question! I definitely travel with a person who everyone sees as my exact replica at all times who ISN'T related to me, for sure, absolutely... not. Obviously, we're twins. (Sidenote: our usual answer to this question is "nope" or "yeah, she's actually my cousin!" Yes, some people believe us.)

2. You're not identical? Are you sure? You look exactly the same! Do you even know the difference between fraternal and identical?

Yes. I am absolutely sure. Yes, I know what a fraternal twin is, and yes I am sure I am one. No, the doctor didn't make a mistake. No, my parents didn't misunderstand the doctor. Yes, you're being rude trying to "educate" me on my own biology, so please discontinue.

3. Who is the *insert characteristic here* twin?

Smarter, prettier, care-free, more athletic, better overall, etc: ALL rude things to ask. We are both awesome in our own ways and we both have strengths and weaknesses. We excel in different areas and do not need to be directly compared to one another just because you think we have the same face. No thank you.

4. You're 26 minutes apart? Your poor mom, she must hate you!

First of all, no. Second of all, no, again. Our mother loves us regardless of how long she was in labor. (Also, it kind of wasn't up to our not-even-born-yet selves how we were going to be born... sorry, not sorry?)

5. Can you feel each other's pain? Do you have twin telepathy? Do you have a secret twin language?

No, no and definitely no—that would be super creepy. We are just two people who happen to be born on the same day to the same parents, NOT a duo out of a science-fiction novel.

Twins have it rough sometimes. Please know that while we understand that you are genuinely curious about these things, it is kind of... none of your business, and none of your questions are original. It has never been, and never will be, fun to be looked at and interrogated as a pair of circus freaks or two of the exact same person. We are completely separate individuals who live their own lives, who just happen to look pretty similar and share a birthday.

Until next week friends!