Ever wonder what it would be like to share a birthday with your sibling? Here are the myths and truths of what it’s really like to have a twin.
First things first, twins are often thought of as identical, usually two females or two males who look like they have been copied and pasted. The resemblance between identical twins is unlike any other. On the other hand, there are fraternal twins. This means they still share the same birthday but do not resemble one another. As a fraternal twin myself, I can say that my brother and I share similar features such as hair and eye color, but we do not look identical! Don’t be fooled though, twins of the same sex can also be fraternal and just because they may be of the female or male sex, does not mean they are identical.
I’m going to be very honest, being a twin can be hard. You may both have very similar interests which could work in terms of schooling, carpooling and friend groups. For some of us, twins tend to be opposites of one another. I would suggest never asking twins questions such as, “Who is smarter?”, “Who is more athletic?” or “Who is more successful?”. These are often hurtful questions, and it is very important to not compare the two siblings. They are still two different individuals with different ambitions and goals. This is something I wish more people knew when I was growing up.
This sounds very silly but if you are a twin, I can guarantee you have been asked if twin telepathy is real. I can assure you it is not. It may sound silly, but some twins think alike and share so many of the same experiences, others assume that to be some sort of superpower.
Sharing a birthday with another human may seem unusual to those who do not have to share their special day with their sibling, but us twins live this as our reality. I have had people ask me if it sucked and to be completely honest, no. It does not suck. I couldn’t imagine celebrating my birthday any other way. I feel very lucky to share it with my brother, and I wouldn’t have it any other way!
Looking back, I can conclude that being a twin is my superpower and shout out to all the other twin siblings out there!