11 Things I'm Tired Of Hearing As A Twin | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

11 Things I'm Tired Of Hearing As A Twin

Who was born first?

11
11 Things I'm Tired Of Hearing As A Twin
Emily Harris, 2016

I was born 18 minutes before my twin sister. The next 20 years of my life would be filled with matching velcro sneakers, identical blond braids and sharing birthday gifts. Being a twin is unique, but also pretty similar to any other brother or sister relationship. But somehow, at 20 years old, I've narrowed down to some of the most common questions and remarks I have heard about being a twin.

1. Which one is older?

According to NCBI, "A clinical investigation was undertaken to challenge the commonly accepted view that the interval between the birth of the first and second twins should be preferably within 15 minutes and certainly no more than 30 minutes." Therefore, granted, my sister and I were on the weirder side of the spectrum, but typically, this answer doesn't really have a point, and even if it does, it can be summed up in an average. However, I do like answering this question since I'm older by 18 minutes.

2. Are you guys identical or fraternal?

I actually have no idea what the scientific difference is between the two, but all I do know is that my sister and I are fraternal. This is the time I turned to Google:

"Because fraternal, or dizygotic, twins are 2 separate fertilized eggs, they usually develop 2 separate amniotic sacs, placentas, and supporting structures. Identical, or monozygotic, twins may or may not share the same amniotic sac, depending on how early the single fertilized egg divides into 2.

If twins are a boy and a girl, clearly they are fraternal twins, as they do not have the same DNA. A boy has XY chromosomes and a girl has XX chromosomes. Girl-boy twins occur when one X egg is fertilized with an X sperm, and a Y sperm fertilizes the other X egg" (Healthy Children).

So, if you're interested in how the journalism, pre-law student would word this difference: My sister and I were born in different sacs, therefore, we are fraternal.

3. Are you friends?

I've been asked this question so many times and it blows my mind because having a twin is the same as having another sibling, minus spending a lot of time inherently together.

4. Is being a twin really fun?

Again, it's just as fun as having a normal sibling. It is great to always have someone, especially on the first day of school and at lunch time.

5. Do you like being a twin?

Sure, but I wasn't really given a choice.

6. Tell me all about your twin.

I could write a book about my sister's life or at least set up her LinkedIn bio after explaining every part of who she is and wants to be to people.

7. Do you act the same?

Going back to that Google search, we were in different sacs, so no.

8. Do you finish each other's sentences?

Someone's been watching too much daytime television.

9. Did you want to go to the same college?

This is one question I get a lot when people I meet at my college realize I have a twin. And the honest answer is, I don't know. I didn't pick where I wanted to go to school off of my sister. Sure, it would have been great to have her at college, but ultimately, we wanted to go to different school for academic reasons. I think this is a good example of a process that really is individualized, like picking your college, that gets blurred when you're a twin.

10. Do you miss her?

Obviously, I'm not evil.

11. Are you Emily or Caroline?

And with that, I'm done.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

These powerful lyrics remind us how much good is inside each of us and that sometimes we are too blinded by our imperfections to see the other side of the coin, to see all of that good.

642936
Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

The song was sent to me late in the middle of the night. I was still awake enough to plug in my headphones and listen to it immediately. I always did this when my best friend sent me songs, never wasting a moment. She had sent a message with this one too, telling me it reminded her so much of both of us and what we have each been through in the past couple of months.

Keep Reading... Show less

What's your sign? It's one of the first questions some of us are asked when approached by someone in a bar, at a party or even when having lunch with some of our friends. Astrology, for centuries, has been one of the largest phenomenons out there. There's a reason why many magazines and newspapers have a horoscope page, and there's also a reason why almost every bookstore or library has a section dedicated completely to astrology. Many of us could just be curious about why some of us act differently than others and whom we will get along with best, and others may just want to see if their sign does, in fact, match their personality.

Keep Reading... Show less
Entertainment

20 Song Lyrics To Put A Spring Into Your Instagram Captions

"On an island in the sun, We'll be playing and having fun"

537683
Photo by Spencer Imbrock on Unsplash

Whenever I post a picture to Instagram, it takes me so long to come up with a caption. I want to be funny, clever, cute and direct all at the same time. It can be frustrating! So I just look for some online. I really like to find a song lyric that goes with my picture, I just feel like it gives the picture a certain vibe.

Here's a list of song lyrics that can go with any picture you want to post!

Keep Reading... Show less
Relationships

The Importance Of Being A Good Person

An open letter to the good-hearted people.

816196
WP content

Being a good person does not depend on your religion or status in life, your race or skin color, political views or culture. It depends on how good you treat others.

We are all born to do something great. Whether that be to grow up and become a doctor and save the lives of thousands of people, run a marathon, win the Noble Peace Prize, or be the greatest mother or father for your own future children one day. Regardless, we are all born with a purpose. But in between birth and death lies a path that life paves for us; a path that we must fill with something that gives our lives meaning.

Keep Reading... Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments