Customer Reviews

It's Twins!: Parent-to-Parent Advice from Infancy through Adolescence

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This review may be biased since one of my stories is in this book. On the other hand, prior to becoming a mom, I was a counselor and have read many counseling/self-help books. When I found out I was pregnant with twins, I read every twin-specific parenting manual I could find (three books at the time). None of the books were as helpful and as interesting as this book.
"It's Twins" by Susan M. Heim is conveniently broken down into four different developmental sections (Ages 0-1; Ages 2-4; Ages 5-11; Ages 12-17). This makes it easy for the reader to quickly refer to the appropriate age level. Each section is then further broken down into Twin Tales, Twin Tips, Intriguing Twins, Twin Trivia and Points to Ponder. The Twin Tales are real-life stories written by parents of multiples (one of which is mine). These tales make the book more personal than other twin parenting books available. I only wish I had had the Twin Tips regarding air travel (which is three pages long) before I traveled with my twin toddlers since there were so many helpful suggestions that I could not find anywhere else (and believe me, I looked).
I have found this book to be extremely helpful in understanding and parenting my twins (and I am not just saying that because my story was in it). I only wish it had been written before they were born!

This book offers essential information for parents of twins and multiples. It is an amazing collection from parents who have experienced birth through college with twins. The detail is great and the writing styles fresh and natural. Check out Joanne Higgins Ensign's realistic view on breast feeding twins in the article "Five Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me About Breastfeeding Twins." The collection of articles reads like a round table discussion at a coffee shop. Informative, quick and straight to the point. Some articles like Cheryl Oberbeck Burn's "Twins Tale, Spring Parrots," offer surprising depth and vulnerability. In few words she conveys the challenge of making the preschool decision, doing the right thing, and being your own person.



Each article is followed by questions to assist the reader making their own choices.



This book offers a large amount of information in small bite size portions. A book to keep and reference again and again.

It's been 17 years since my twin sons were born, and reading It's Twins! brought back many memories of those early years when I wasn't sure if I was going to make it through another day. Now I can laugh when I read other women's stories about trying to breastfeed twins, or answering those weird questions ("But they don't look alike at all--are you sure they're twins?"), or trying to go grocery shopping with two babies. I could go on and on, but I don't have to--this book says it all.

The author's experience as an editor for the series, Chicken Soup for the Soul, is reflected here, since the book contains stories by different people at different stages in their parenting journey. I could have written some of the stories in this book, which showed me that my experiences were not unusual, even if I thought they were at the time. I would have welcomed this book when my boys were young, just to show me others went through the same things that I did.

There is also plenty of general child-rearing advice, making it an all-purpose parenting book--very useful when you don't have much time to spend reading. Throughout the book are "Points to Ponder," questions related to the topics just covered, with space to write a few lines. For those of us who are already journaling, these questions are wonderful prompts to help us write about our experiences as a mother of twins.

One of the most valuable pieces of advice in the book comes in the toddler and preschooler section, where Heim says, "Respect each child's individual differences. Emphasize each child's strengths. And don't allow one twin to dominate the relationship to the detriment of the non-dominant twin." This is something I have always tried to do with my boys, and now that they are 17 and soon to graduate high school, I feel confident that each is an individual prepared to start his independent life.

This book was very enjoyable and a quick read. I think parents of twins (or more) will find it inspiring, fun, and informative. So take some of that precious free time when both babies are actually asleep, and you aren't, to read this book.

by Danelle Sasser
for Story Circle Book Reviews
reviewing books by, for, and about women

My twin boys are three months old and this book fits right in at this stage! My husband and I read it together and can't get enough! We love the stories and just smile because we have been their with our boys. Or we can see it happening with us. I wish I would have gotten it earlier! If you have twins or are having twins, this is a must read! Enjoy!

My feelings on this book were different during the pregnancy vs. now that the twins have arrived. I am glad I read it before they were born, otherwise I would have never had the time. Some great tidbits.

I love this book! The articles, personal experience stories, and Points to Ponder are a wonderful blend of information, emotion, and help to parents seeking guidance and choices for their own parenting styles. No children are alike, and one approach does not fit all. This book understands that parents want to learn about different parenting approaches. The Points to Ponder help parents think through their various options. "It's Twins" is very well organized by developmental stages. As a teacher, this book was also very helpful to me in understanding the dynamics of the twin relationship and the issues faced by the twins in my classroom.

It's true that there is strength in numbers, and knowing that many parents of twins go through the same struggles gives us strength or at least a point of comparison to our peers, and the idea that we aren't terrible.
The anecdotes are hilarious, and provide some great parenting tips.

Thank you,

Hilarious stories in this one, I can definitely relate to the chaos and craziness that is nonstop with twins. However, it's more just funny or warm stories than anything else. There are some good bits that I plan on using, like potty training and traveling tips.
If you want more of an instructional book, get TWINS! or one of the What to Expect books.

It's Twins is a wonderful way to connect you to other twin parents. So often as new moms and multiples moms we get overwhelmed and feel very housebound. This book helped me laugh and cry with other parents who had similar experiences. I am a mother of boy/girl twins who are now five. I, of course, had to laugh at a story about birthday parties for boy/girl twins. It was a pirate and princess party. As you can imagine half way through the party, the pirates were chasing the princesses all over the backyard. As my children get older, I can relate to the stories about school placement, friendship problems, academic differences, and basic gender differences. This is a book that I will continue to consult as my children become pre-teens, teens, and beyond. It is made up of short stories so makes an excellent nightstand book. You can read a couple pages a night and still feel you are getting good information.

This book was just "OK" for me. I'm a new Mom of identical twin boys (now 6 months old). I was looking for a book that would tell me everything I needed to know on the real important stuff, like sleeping, feeding, etc. I didn't want just stories I wanted straight and specific answers. I wanted more advice and more information on what to expect. This book did have some very good information, just not as much as I was hoping for. And the advice it did give was all across the board - I guess they wanted to give information on the different ways to handle things - but I wanted one answer and it to be the "right" way... maybe there isn't a right way. Now being an actual Mom of twins (with 6 whole months of experience - ha ha) - I could now give some very specific "helpful hints" that I wish this book would have given me.