"Its like you're my mirror."
Except not really...
Let's begin with the biggest disclaimer. Being a twin ROCKS. I love my sister. Getting to grow up with someone who is both your sibling and your best friend is something I never want to take for granted.
However, people should be enlightened on the 13 basic disclaimers of twin life and come to see the blessing that it is...in all its uniqueness. After all, according to the internet, our rate is 1 in 90 live births. Accurate? Not sure. Cool? Sure.
- The reactions to telling people you’re a twin becomes more funny each time. There comes a point when you get used to sharing a fact most people won't know unless they follow you on Instagram (and even then they probably think she’s just a sister.) It becomes a go-to fun fact in icebreaker games. The classic “NO WAY” or “I can’t imagine you with a twin, show me a picture!” become well, yeah classic.
- If we’re the older one, we’ll tell you. Especially if like me, you’re 35 minutes older. Which is like 5 years in twin births.
- Yes, we do get asked those questions all the time. After I reveal that I’m a twin, I get typical questions that are always followed by “Y'all must get asked that a lot.” Yes. Yes we do.
- Please don’t ask us if we still match clothes. That really did stop around age 5 and has not continued.
- Please realize that you stare at us in public. For a while I would debate if it's because I have something on my face or if you think I'm cute, but then I realize it's because you're just seeing double.
- We aren’t telepathic. That’s not a thing. If anything, I’d just say we’re close. Its like when your mom knows you’re sick without having to tell her. I’ve been by my sisters side for nearly two decades. I know when she’s upset.
- The comparison can be rough. It’s not always easy to have someone who looks just like you in the same grade and sharing all the same activities as you. It’s super easy to compare weaknesses to strengths, which leads me to my next point...
- We are different people. We look alike, but it can pretty much stop there. Music, clothing styles, taste in guys, what we dream of, our personalities...that's all different.
- I will turn around if you call her name. Sorry, it’s basically as familiar as my own.
- Don’t ask me if you can date my twin. Trust me I can see why you’d want to...but is that supposed to compliment or insult me? I don’t really know and it’s an awkward position to be placed in. I’m not going to be your wingman for my sister.
- It’s like a show watching us interact. We talk over each other and have our inside jokes and mannerisms, so feeling slightly uncomfortable and out of place is understood. Sorry.
- I will never be as comfortable around you as I am with my twin. I feel like this just makes sense.
- The appreciation of the gift you’ve been given in a twin grows as you get older. As my twin and I graduated and went to two very different colleges that are far apart, we realized the preciousness found in a built-in best friend and a person who knows you completely inside and out. You realize you’re their biggest cheerleader and they’re the same for you. It’s an irreplaceable feeling knowing someone has always got your back, and who will also tell you when you come home for winter break that you need to lay off the caf ice-cream. #bless
