Parent Opinion: "Having twins is easier than just having one. There, I said it."

There isn’t a week that goes by without a fellow parent saying something along the lines of, “Jeez, having twins must be so difficult”.

Yes, it’s true. Having twins is super hard… but only really for the first few months.

I know that’s controversial, but I feel like it’s my duty as a first-time parent who happens to make a living writing about this to let you in on a little secret… having twins is much easier than having just one child. There, I said it.

Hear me out.

Listen to Mia Freedman’s podcast, No Filter, where she speaks with Sean Szeps and his husband Josh, about raising twins. Post continues below. 

#1 – You’ll get more outside support.

You’re much more likely to get support from friends and family when you have twins, mainly because they feel terrible for the amount of work you have to do.

That, and you’ll get offers long past the baby phase.

#2 – The kids play together.

Because twins have a built-in buddy system from day one, you’ll get a lot more opportunities for guilt-free alone time. Instead of feeling bad about not giving them enough attention while you swipe through Instagram, you can happily double-tap knowing they’re busy playing with their best mate.

#3 – They learn sharing and patience faster.

Unlike singletons, twins are forced to learn how to share and be patient much earlier in life. This makes the transition to daycare a bit easier, and the terrible twos much more manageable for you.

#4 – Twins are the best excuse.

Not keen on going to the Christmas party? Want to leave early from the bat mitzvah? Just say “the twins” and you’re good to go. The fact that you have two small humans means you’ll not only commit to less but you’ll have a ‘Get Out of Jail Free’ card to use whenever you need it.

#5 – One party to plan.

Birthday parties are expensive and stressful. So while it’s important to ensure that each twin feels unique and special on their birthday, throwing one party saves time and sanity.

#6 – They learn faster.

Because one twin is likely to learn and master a skill before the other, they act as a motivating factor for the other twin to “catch up”. This means you’ll have two kids achieving milestones around the same time, with less effort on your part at every step of the journey.

#7 – You learn faster, too.

Raising twins means you see and experience a lot more variety in a shorter period of time. Because each twin is so different, you are often forced to throw protectionism out the door and evolve your style for each child.

Any parent who’s had a second or third child admits that it gets easier as they’ve gained more experience. With twins, you get that experience right away.

#8– Once you’re finished, you’re finished.

If you decide not to have any more children after your twins, you’ll only have to go through each phase once. And that’s a blessing that should not be undervalued.

Listen, I know raising twins isn’t the easiest thing in the world. But I can’t keep pretending it’s 10 times harder when you ask. Because the truth is… it really isn’t.

Do you have twins and feel the same? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.