Tuesday, June 28, 2011

AN INTERVIEW: FRATERNAL TWIN SISTERS

Do you have twins in your family? Do you believe twins have a special connection? I invite you to read the interview below and would like you to come to your own conclusions as to whether a special bond exists between twins. I am fascinated with twins. This is why I have written two trilingual children's picture books about twin girls and boys. My Sister is My Best Friend will be published summer 2011. My second twin book, My Brother is My Best Friend publication date is not yet determined.

Donna McDine and Debra Brennan are fraternal twins. I had each sister answer the interview questions; below are the answers.

DEBRA BRENNAN



Studies have shown that twins usually think alike; do you find this to be true with both of you?


At times I completely agree. Donna and I have often purchased the same clothing for events, as well as the same birthday cards for each other and for friends and family. We also often make the same decisions in child rearing etc...

Studies have also shown that twins are hereditary; do you have a long history of twins in your family?

I am not aware of a history of twins.

Can you explain what it was like growing up as fraternal twins?

There was always the closeness of having my other half with me. At times it could be competitive but we always were there for each other during those years. We were very different as individuals and in the high school that we went to which had a graduating class of over 600 we were often not known as sisters.
One of the clearest memories I had of my sister, Donna, was when I tried to get back my stolen varsity jacket from another student who decided to start a physical altercation with me. Donna showed up immediately and tried to protect me from the assault. How she knew about it, I don't know, but she showed up just in the nick of time! We were often compared to each other and that did not help us become independent of one another. Over time we became confident in who we were and were able to develop our own true identities.

Was it difficult to develop your own identity as an individual?


At times it was difficult, but we are both fiercely independent and we worked hard to develop our own true identities. We really did not have the same strengths and weaknesses, so it was always interesting how people had a need to compare us and try to measure us against each other.

Now that you are both adults living separate lives, can you explain a little bit about your life? Do you both have the same interests, or are you polar opposites?

I am a sixth grade math teacher. I have been teaching for the past 21 years. I am also a Vice President of my school's Teachers Union. I am married with three children aged 15, 12, and seven. They are heavily involved in hockey, baseball, etc... and I spend a great deal of my time involved in their sports.
We seem to have the same interests in what we read, the types of friends we are the most comfortable with, how we spend time with family, etc... A lot of that may have to do with how we were raised. I would not say we are polar opposites but rather that we have become the best of friends as we grew into adults.

Do you have any advice for mothers with newborn twins?

Allow your children to explore their interests. Do not try to portray them as one in the same. Each child will have their own voice if encouraged.



DONNA McDINE




Studies have shown that twins usually think alike; do you find this to be true with both of you?

Our thoughts definitely coincide. Without even trying to, our decision-making process has always been quite similar. On many occasions we have purchased the same gifts for each other, have shown up at social gatherings with the exact same outfit or the same outfit but in a different color. The different color aspect, I lend that to being fraternal twins.
One specific event that occurred was the fall after we graduated from high school, my twin sister was in Boston with friends and I was home. During dinner one evening she was overcome with a strong urge to call home because she had an overwhelming feeling something was wrong with me. And sure enough I was in a terrible car accident just hours earlier.

Studies have also shown that twins are hereditary; do you have a long history of twins in your family?

We don't have a long history of twins, but our mother's grandmother had twins.

Can you explain what it was like growing up as fraternal twins?

Our parents always made sure that we were treated as individuals even though the expectations of doing well in school were the same for both of us and our older siblings. Competition between the two of us would rear its ugly head at times, such as who learned to ride a bike first, who made the school team, and of course who passed their driver's test first. After getting through childhood, graduating high school, and attending different colleges the competition barrier fell to the wayside. We grew closer because of this.

Was it difficult to develop your own identity as an individual?

Even though we are fraternal twins the comparison teachers held over us became quite frustrating. To break from this mold we gravitated towards different groups of friends and interests. This was not difficult to establish since we lived in a large neighborhood and attended a large school.

Now that you are both adults living separate lives, can you explain a little bit about your life? Do you both have the same interest, or are you polar opposites?

I'll be married 22 years this August and have two daughters, 16 and 13. Working from home is a blessing, but can be problematic if I don't set boundaries, which I learned the hard way. I am now not so quick to be that "yes person" to others' needs during working hours. If I don't keep these boundaries I'm frustrated and exhausted before my girls get home from school, from my lack of work production, and find myself trying to "catch up" when I should be available for them.
I am fiercely loyal to my twin sister as well as she is to me. We celebrate both our successes and provide a safe haven in times of sorrow. We have had our moments of disagreement with each other, but we are always quick to get over it.


I can't say we are polar opposites since my two nephews are close in age to my children, 15 and 12. The two oldest are both January babies and are 10 days shy of being exactly a year apart. With the two youngest being in the seventh grade, even though they are 10 months apart. The number 10 seems to be a similarity. The difference in children is my twin sister has a third child, Leah, who will be eight in October. We are both avid readers and approach parenting with the same no-nonsense approach. And to top it off, our husbands are best friends...[since] years before we married our respective spouses.

What do you do for work?


I have worked from home for the last 13 years as a virtual assistant, as a children's author the last three years, and most recently as the Editor-in-Chief for Guardian Angel Kids Ezine and publicist for the Children's Writers' Coaching Club.

Do you have any advice for mothers with newborn twins?

Each baby comes into this world with their own personality, whether solo or with a twin. Embrace their individuality from the onset and watch them soar.

To learn more about Donna you can visit her sites:
DonnaMcDine.com
Write What Inspires You Blog
The Golden Pathway Blog
Readers, I hope you enjoyed reading this interview. If you are a twin, please feel free to share your experiences in the comments section.


Read more: http://blogcritics.org/culture/article/interview-fraternal-twin-sis...

18 comments:

  1. How interesting to read about you and your sister. My sister and I are not twins but do some of the same things you mentioned. My two younger sisters are 3 years apart and have the same experiences. Such fun.

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  2. I've always been fascinated br twins.
    Great interview!
    Morgan Mandel
    http://www.morganmandel.com
    http://morganmandel.blogspot.com

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  3. This is interesting and personal to me,as I have fraternal twin boys. (Yes, I still call them boys.) They are totally opposite--absolutely left and right brained. They were a delight to raise and are still a delight. They have grown even closer over the years, even with one in DC and the other in LA. Would I choose to have twins again? Absolutely!

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  4. Hi Nicole,
    Thanks for interviewing Donna and her sister. I am always interested in reading about twins because my mother was a fraternal twin.

    Barbara Bockman

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  5. Wonderful post. Our family is very prone to twins. I'm not one of them, but I've watched two sets of them grow up and they're VERY connected. It's amazing.

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  6. As a mother of twins I know this special bond does indeed exist! I'm your newest follower from Relax & Surf Sunday! Would love for you to stop by and say hi!

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  7. Very interesting. I have one set of twin cousins. Hi! Just stopping by. Following you from Finding New Friends Weekend Blog Hop. Would love a visit and a follow back on my blog: http://blog.writerslairbooks.com. Thanks! Nice to meet you!

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  8. Visiting and following from the Monday Hop. Visit me at www.gritsandgiggles.blogspot.com

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  9. I am a fraternal twin! What an interesting post! New follower from the hop! :)

    makinmartinezmemories.blogspot.com

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  10. Great post! I discovered you blog at Books blogs
    http://lupdilup-hotlistens.blogspot.com/

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  11. We have two sets of twins in our family and it's amazing to see them interact. Sometimes it's awesome, especially when they seem to anticipate each other's needs. Still they do have those individual traits that set them apart and I loved what Donna said: Each baby comes into this world with their own personality, whether solo or with a twin. Embrace their individuality from the onset and watch them soar"

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  12. Loved this post. I am a new follower on Twitter, Facebook, and GFC. I hope you'll hop over to my blog for a visit and follow when you have a moment. Donna

    http://mylife-in-stories.blogspot.com

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  13. There is an eight year age difference between my sister and me but we also send each other the same cards and turn up at events in the same outfits. Strange … but true.

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  14. I am a fraternal twin...14 minutes apart. A very interesting article.

    Thank you,
    Steve King, MBA, MEd
    http://about.me/booksatthebeach

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  15. So interesting! Your books sound great!
    I'm a new follower.
    suchakingdom.blogspot.com

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  16. new follower
    http://lifewith4girls.blogspot.com/
    my younger sisters are identical twins & my best friends

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  17. Hi,

    Im a fraternal twin (with a brother) with younger identical twin sisters, my mum was a quadruplet and there are fraternal and identical twins dotted about my mothers and fathers side for at least the last 3-4 generations.

    This article is very intresting, I completly agree that twins should be encouraged to be treated as individuals.

    A lovely article to read.

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  18. I'm a fraternal twin. My twin is my best friend. I'm in London (w/my husband and son) and she's in the states. I miss her tremendously. She's my best friend and we've Skyped almost everyday since I've been here. Having a twin sister is a true blessing. We are extremely close. In a weird way it makes me a social hermit. I feel complete when we're together but when we are apart (like now), I'm not myself 100%. I'm not an introvert but without my twin I'm a bit more reserved. We are very different individuals, night and day, perhaps that's why we get along so well. I never understood the competitiveness that's mentioned having a twin.

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