My nephew phoned the other day to make a big, giant family announcement. Glancing at the caller ID, I answered with a joyous “I know why you’re calling!”
It’s the worst-kept secret in California that he and his wife are trying to conceive the first child-to-be of the next generation, and I just knew that this was the call.
“Hmmm. Exactly what are you thinking?”, he replied.
“Don’t be coy with me, I know better. When’s the little sucker due?” I asked.
“Twins”, he answered. “There are 2 heartbeats.”
It takes a lot to render me speechless, but that did it. And I don’t even know why. Twins aren’t all that uncommon, and I’ve certainly seen my share of multiples, but for some reason I was utterly floored. After much congratulating and exclaiming and hooting, I got off the phone and spent the rest of the day surrounded by thoughts of this coming generation that will start off with a double.
There’s so much I want to tell these little ones (who, as I write this, are each the size of a large blackberry). Where do I begin? Here goes …
The long ago day I got the call that your father was born, I was a spanking new college grad with a boundless future and the belief that anything was possible. My rent was $200 a month and gas had reached a new high of $0.86 a gallon. I had no cell phone or laptop, and we were still at least a dozen years away from the world wide web. To do research meant spending hours poring over books in the library. My part-time job was transferring handwritten survey results to punch cards used to feed research data into a computer that filled an entire room.
As your dad was starting pre-school I was entering med school, where doctors had become aware of a new syndrome among young, urban men that became known as GRID, which stood for Gay Related Immune Deficiency. The name was later changed to HIV/AIDS. There was no treatment and a test to identify the infection in blood samples wouldn’t become available until 1985.
While your pop was learning the 3 R’s (that’s reading, writing, and ‘rithmetic), the first woman Justice, Sandra Day O’Connor, was appointed to the Supreme Court. Michael Jordan was the leading scorer in the NBA, and John Lennon of the Beatles was murdered by crazed fan Mark Chapman outside of his New York apartment building.
By the time your mom and dad met at graduate school in Paris (beyond romantic) the world had undergone seismic change. A few years before, jet planes flew into the World Trade Towers and shifted the global landscape, and the word security took on a whole new meaning. America was bogged down in two wars in the Middle East and Apple iTunes had sold its billionth (with a B) song. It was love at first sight — between your mom and our family, I mean.
The summer of ’09 brought their fantastic wedding, as well as the sad deaths of Ted Kennedy and Michael Jackson, the official departure of Paula Abdul from the American Idol judges table, and Sarah Palin’s resignation as Governor of Alaska to spend more time with her family and avoid being “a distraction” (you betcha).
And now, here we are. They’re about to become your parents. A few controversial trends they may want to consider:
Tiger Parenting a la Amy Chua. Violin or video games?
Cloth or disposables?
Co-sleeping.
Baby-wearing.
Natural childbirth or epidural?
Circumcision.
Discipline styles.
Television and brainy baby supplements.
Toilet training.
Sleep training …
Okay, I’d better stop here since I’m having to sit on my hands so as not to offer unsolicited advice ON EVERY ONE OF THOSE TOPICS. This may be challenging for me, little ones.
You will be the first of your generation in our family, just as your daddy was the first of his. He was the OLDER cousin, and all the kids that followed looked up to him (and still do). I know for sure that you will do as he did, and nurture and teach the little guys who come after. Well, maybe you won’t invite one of them to the X-games in Aspen and … oh, never mind. Skip that one.
Bottom line … we’ve already fallen madly in love with you, you 2 little berries, and we can’t wait to meet you!
Love and Kisses,
Auntie Rachel
The information provided by MamasOnCall is not intended as a substitute for professional advice, but is for information purposes only. You assume full responsibility for the health and well-being of your family. Talk with your healthcare provider about any questions you may have regarding a medical or psychiatric condition.
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