'You've got your hands full'

Book review: Twins in the world by Alessandra Piontelli

Review by Katrina Hill

As a recent mother of twins I was very excited to be given the opportunity to review Twins in the World: The Legends They Inspire and the Lives They Lead and wasn't disappointed.

From the moment I found out I was carrying twins I felt driven to find out as much as I could about the two little lives that would be entering the world and coming home with me. Whilst an expert with singletons, twins are a whole new experience and, quite frankly, daunting at times. Unless you have twins, are a twin or have a fascination with twins then you probably don't know about the complexity with just the basics of the genetics.

How many eight-year-olds have a mobile phone?

THE first time I saw any of Emily and Melissa's friends with a mobile phone was at their eighth birthday party.

The two girls who brought them along didn't know how to make a call.

My daughters regularly ask for a phone as a present as a birthday or Christmas approaches. Now 10, they haven't got one yet.

The following is a post from Camilla Chafer on her blog about family-friendly gadgets and stuff, Technoglam. It has amazed me so I'm going to go away and find out more about the research, I'm wondering how big the poll was.

Camilla says she's also surprised by the figures and reports that 40 per cent of eight to 11-year-old girls are using a mobile phone every day, while 22 per cent of boys the same age are busy on their handsets.

I can't quite believe it - can you?

Books: Tiki: My Life in the Game and Beyond

SARAH at Sarah and the Goon Squad wrote a book review of Tiki: My Life in the Game and Beyond by Tiki Barber.

I asked Sarah to read Tiki's book because she's a raging football fan (her words), a fan of Tiki and his identical twin brother, Ronde, and she's the mother of 4-year-old twins, the Goon Squad. We met when we were both pregnant with our twins. Mine were actually due after hers were, but they were born earlier. The Goon Squad was born two weeks later.

Sarah also blogs for BlogHer, DC Metro Moms, Draft Day Suit, Loser Moms, MamaPop and Sarah Reviews Stuff Here.

A twin tale from across The Pond - where being a mom is cool

Hi. My name is Sarah, Goon Squad Sarah. Pleased to meet you.

When Linda asked me to write something for the UK's Twins, Triplets & More Week about being a parent of twins in the United States I was flattered and I immediately accepted.

Then I freaked out a little bit because I have never had twins (or been a parent at all for that matter) anywhere else and so I am not entirely sure what makes being a parent of multiples in the U.S. different from raising twins in the U.K.

The reality of being a multiple mum

I WANTED to write an article on what it means to me being a multiple mum as there are an increasing number of multiples being born in the UK, writes Kirsty Gray.

However, there still seems to be not only a lack of understanding what it really involves but also a really negative perception about having multiples.

I wanted to get across that it isn’t negative, it’s actually a huge positive and multiple parents really do feel truly blessed - if a little exhausted.

Don't penalise IVF patients over NHS money worries

WITH today's announcement of new moves towards a limit on embryos implanted during IVF and the launch of public consultation, mums of multiples are speaking out.

Here, Juliet Rean, mum to five-year-olds Daniel and Charlotte, responds to the proposed measures.

Firstly, I anticipate that this consultation is a paper exercise and that the views of the majority of patients will be ignored. However, as someone with IVF twins, I should like to express my views.

Twins' cult film countdown

A scene from Basket Case, showing, erm, a basket case.

AS twin parents we’re all guilty of it. You can spot us in the corner of our local Blockbuster or scanning TV listings for any sign, writes Ash Loydon.

It starts off innocently enough: You find out you’re expecting multiples and joke about them being the next Mary Kate and Ashley. Then, next thing you know you’re tuning into The Parent Trap (the Hayley Mills version of course) and The Olsen Twins' comedy classic New York Minute on Channel 5.

Top tips for dealing with Chicken Pox

GABBY Carlyon is mum to three-year-olds James and Eilidh, and Hannah, one. Recently, all three children were struck with Chicken Pox.

Can you imagine? Here, Gabby, a Twinsclub veteran, and Edinburgh Twins Club member, tells how she coped and passes on her wisdom for other parents faced with such a nightmare. Thanks Gabby!