Dear TwinsTalk Family,
Welcome to the Father's Day edition of TwinsTalk! I wish all of you fathers of twins and multiples a very happy and fun-filled day. I'm giving my husband a break from fatherhood and taking him to the movies and out for sushi! Of course, the kids also have a few gifts and good wishes to share with him, too. Here's a picture of Daddy with his boys:
June's Multiples of the Month Winners!
Congratulations go out to the winners of June's Multiples of the Month contest! Jody-Lynn Simonian and Shauna Brazie (and their beautiful twins) are the lucky winners of the book, My Sister, My Self, by Vikki Stark, which has a whole chapter devoted to twins! The winning pictures are below. You've got about two weeks to submit your twins' pictures for July's Multiples of the Month contest. Don't delay!
Have You Read a Good Book Written by Twins?
In addition to parenting books, I also like to read memoirs written by twins. I've read some really great ones lately, and have posted reviews of them on TwinsTalk. Check them out! (Click on the titles below to read the full reviews.)
The Power of Two: A Twin Triumph over Cystic Fibrosis
The Power of Two is a fascinating account of Isabel and Anabel Stenzel's life with cystic fibrosis, the powerful twin bond, and the influence of cultural differences on family dynamics. This beautifully written book will amaze you with its brutal honesty, move you to tears, and inspire you to count your blessings.
Twin Voices: A Memoir of Polio, the Forgotten Killer
Twin Voices recounts the deadly polio epidemics that swept the country before polio vaccines were developed. More chillingly, it is the personal story of the Flood family, whose twins were separated by death when little Frankie died of polio and his sister, author Janice Flood Nichols, barely survived.
Identical Strangers: A Memoir of Twins Separated and Reunited
Suppose you were adopted and decided to try to find information on your birth family. In the course of your investigation, you discover that you have an identical twin that you never knew existed! And, on top of that shocking news, you learn that you were separated as infants as part of a secret study on twins. This actually happened to Elyse Schein and Paula Bernstein, authors of Identical Strangers. This book describes their efforts to absorb this shocking news and establish a relationship with each other.
Have you read a good memoir or other book about twins? Please post your book reviews in the Articles section of TwinsTalk!
Products Invented by Parents of Twins
Parents of twins often find that they're pretty good at handling a challenge, and when they can't find a product that they need, they create it themselves! These parents did just that:
Gemini Greetings
Anjelice Tyson, mom of twin boys, couldn't find any cards to give to friends and loved ones from her twins. So, she started her own greeting card line, Gemini Greetings, to fill that need. Check out her adorable birthday cards in the TwinsTalk TwinShop. The full line of Gemini Greeting Cards is available at www.geminigreetings.com.
On Task on Time for Kids
Moschel Kadokura invented On Task On Time for Kids when her triplets were five years old. This great product eliminates the nagging and power struggles associated with stressful transition periods in a day. It allows parents and children to set up routines for morning, after school and bedtime, and puts children in charge of completing tasks in a timely manner. Check it out at www.timelymatters.com.
Braincandy DVDs
Sam Reich-Dagnen and her husband John created the fun and creative Braincandy DVDs, with developmentally appropriate content that truly engages children rather than putting them to sleep. Each DVD explores the 5 senses. There are also accompanying puppets and a CD! Check out these innovative products at www.braincandykids.com.
Do you know a great product invented by a parent of multiples? Please let us know about it at TwinsTalk!
Visit the Forums on TwinsTalk
Do you have a problem that you're struggling with? Perhaps you can't get your twins to stay in bed, you're not sure whether they should share a classroom, or you can't get them to stop fighting! Why not stop by the TwinsTalk Forum and seek the advice of other parents of multiples? You're certain to find some great tips for handling your trickiest twin challenges!
Book of the Month
Twin Connections: Stories That Celebrate the Mysterious Bond Between Twins
Whether it's the way they finish each other's sentences, know when their twin is in trouble, feel each other's pain, or seem to have uncanny parallels in their lives, there is definitely a connection between twins unlike any other sibling relationship. Author Debbie LaChusa, a fraternal twin, always wanted to know if other twins experienced the same things that she and her sister did. This curiosity led her to begin collecting stories from twins around the world that demonstrate this unique bond between twins. Whether you are a twin, a parent of twins, a parent expecting twins, or simply a friend or relative of twins, you will enjoy this amazing collection of twin stories. And, it may just help you better understand the twins in your life.
That's it for this month's edition of the TwinsTalk newsletter. Won't you stop by today and share your stories, tips and pictures? We'd love to hear from you! And if you have any ideas for content for the site or newsletter, please feel free to contact me at susan@twinstalk.com.
Happy Father's Day!
Susan Heim
