'You've got your hands full'

A new life after twins by Sarah Edmonds

 
FOUR years ago, almost exactly, my son O entered the world, a beautiful, happy, gorgeous little boy. No wonder then that my husband and I were keen to ‘crack on’ with number two. Fifteen months after his birth and a three month scan revealed identical twin girls were to join our family.

To be completely honest, the first year of their life seemed to bring more lows than highs....exhaustion, loneliness, feelings of having no one to talk to who understood, frustration and generally of life being difficult. The phrase ‘popping out’ vanished, only to be replaced by ‘military operation’, or more commonly ‘failed operation’.

Rosie Scribble and LivingwithKids welcome Twins, Triplets & More blog tour

THANKS to Rosie Scribble for letting me set up my stall today where I focus on a mum of twins and her story of post natal depression. I hope by spreading the word about the new free/subsidised help on offer from Tamba, word can reach those expectant mums who could most benefit so they can learn that support is out there.

Thanks also to Liz at LivingwithKids who published a guest post from me yesterday, with some facts and figures about twins. I know when I was expecting, I had my eyes opened and a "learning curve" has continued ever since.

Coming tomorrow is another pit-stop in the "tour" and a guest post here from the brilliant Fourdownmumtogo.

So you think you know about twins?

 

THIS is the first guest post in a special week of multiple birth inspired topics. So it's a big welcome to Harriet from the much admired Is there a Plan B? blog which charts the trials and tribulations of shifting from being a London lawyer to a stay at home mum of three in Scotland.  

Her post made me laugh out loud. When I read about some of the questions she has been asked, it takes me back a bit. So, thank you very much Harriet and now it's over to her...

“Goodness, you’ve got your hands full!”
Thank you to Linda for hosting this week of multiple birth inspired posts and for her support of Tamba,

This is a post about about twins. And more precisely about the stuff everyone thinks they know about twins. 

And the stuff everyone says to mothers of twins (I’ve got A and S, who are eighteen months old and identical as well as 3-year-old L). 

And  about the stuff, that sometimes we wish they wouldn’t.

Twins, Triplets and More week 2010: Guest posts, blog tour and carnival

I SET up this blog to offer information and support for parents and carers of twins, triplets and more. Years on, people searching for help with post natal depression still find us and I'm touched that I can be of help.

I've also a longstanding association with Tamba, the Twins and Multiple Births Association, being a member and former magazine editor and PR helper.

That's why when the hardworking people at the charity got in touch to tell me about their annual awareness bid, Twins, Triplets & More week, and the fact that they want to publicise free help for multiple mums, I thought it would be great to spread the word.

It runs from Monday, June 28.

Sponsored post: Get help renewing your tax credits - don't miss out on your money

BY watching this informative video, you are helping to support this site. Find out how to make sure you aren't missing out - in three steps.

I'm also posting it at Have a Lovely Time.

Q&A with Littlemumpreneur.com: How I started a business

THE following is from Littlemumpreneur.com. I hope you may find it interesting. I meant to point people in Erica's direction a while back! Thanks Erica for the questions.

Q1. What is your business called and what does it do?

I’m the director of Passionate Media. This is an agency in Staffordshire, working on various types of editorial and social media projects and commissions for national and regional clients. We also train aspiring writers, journalists, non-profit organisations and companies in making the most of social media and/or journalism/commercial writing skills.

Great British Days Out 2010 raising money and awareness for NACCPO

THIS post is from Have a Lovely Time.

IN the coming weeks, Have a Lovely Time will carry a number of reviews of places across Britain that welcome families. We've already lined up some great attractions to report back from, all over the country.

In some cases, complimentary tickets will have been provided by the attraction or destination reviewed. Bloggers reviewing these places are asked to donate a sum to children's cancer charity, NACCPO.

Career focus: Fun sessions are music to Cathie's ears

Cathie Flynn, far left, and fellow Musical Minis franchisees.

IF your children are still very young, you may be wondering if the day will ever come when you will return to work and not feel totally frazzled. In the first of an occasional series, mum of 10-year-old twins, Cathie Flynn, explains how she found a career path that fitted in perfectly with family life - and brings lots of laughter too...

Cathie is a franchisee for Musical Minis.*

This is a nationwide network of music sessions for babies and toddlers and each 45-minute session introduces music and percussion, concentrating on rhythm, song, sound and movement. A "world of music" is introduced to the children - from classical to modern, to encourage language development and improved co-ordination.

"Best of all," says Cathie, "it's great fun."

Leaving your children for work - and the 'issues' it throws up!

LAST week I was offered an assignment that takes me to America for five days.

To say I was excited as you can imagine, would be an understatement as it came out of the blue. But it also took me a nano second to think 'hang on, it means leaving my family' - and I haven't done that yet.

My daughters are 10. I have taken the job but still part of me was stressing about leaving them - simply because I'll miss them.

Texas octuplets talk about California octuplets

PARENTS of 10-year-old octuplets, Nkem Chukwu and Iyke Louis Udobi, speak to Larry King about raising a large family. One of the octuplets died a week after birth. They also have a 7-year-old daughter.

also blogs at Deep Muck Big Rake. Write her at becky_handsfull@yahoo.com.