By katef | Leave A Comment
Call it an over reaction, call it being picky or over sensitive… it’s probably all of those things, but it still bugs me.
Please don’t call them “The Twins” or worse…”Twinnies.”
I know it is hard to tell them apart sometimes. I know it is hard to remember which one has which names (heck, I named them and even I forget which one got which name).
That’s ok. They are not offended if you don’t know who is who. I am not offended if you don’t know who is who. We are, however, offended if you call them “The Twins.” if you label them by how they were born rather than who they are.
I don’t refer to your single child as “The Singleton”or even “The Boy.” I call him by name and if I do not know his name, I ask.
Ask.
Ask me, their mother, or ask them.
“Are you Zoe or Izzy?”
They know the answer and they’re happy to tell you.
They haven’t even figured out that is is fun to trick people.
Just please don’t call them “The twins.”
(photo by katepickle)
ABOUT katef
Kate is chief cook and clothes washer at the Pickle Farm in 'almost rural' Victoria, Australia, as w{read more}
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kate – this is a great article that is really clear and easy for others to understand. When do understand you can easily see why it is offensive (maybe not even to all but to some). I think it could stem from pregancy – people say.. you are having twins, or we are having twins. No one says – we are having two little girls. My Mum and Dad referred to my sister and I as ‘the girls’ rarely using our names and I always hated it. Thanks for sharing!
It doesn’t bother me so much , generally, but I understand what you mean and I agree if it is because they don’t know their names. It isn’t picky. Sometimes people are just lazy too.
I never refer to them as the ‘twins’ but I do still say the ‘babies’ (ooops)
When people ask how old are your “twins” etc …it’s fine.
i do think this is something that bothers some more than others. i have certainly called my own triplets “the triplets” and I often refer to them (to others…) as our “peapod squad.” it doesn’t offend me when others SOMETIMES refer to them this way. i wouldn’t want them to ALWAYS be “the triplets,” though. we gave them lovely names and they have three very unique personalities that deserve to be separately recognized.
i also think it’s a different situation entirely when your multiples are old enough to know what they prefer. if it’s bothering them to be called “the twins,” then it’s definitely something to consider.
We adopted two children that are not biologically related, but three days apart. People will ask if they are twins or call them twins, when I correct them and tell them that no they are three days apart it drives me crazy when people say well they’re still twins. Really? I don’t think so, and by the way they have names.
Kim – I can not fathom why someone would think they are twins!!
THANK YOU!
As an identical twin myself (98.6% identical, according to the MN Family Twin Study we participate in), I still get annoyed when people won’t even TRY to get our names correct. And we’re 32 years old! My uncle still says, “Hey, Twin!”
*shake my head*
Even now, I get called my sister’s name. Every other day, probably. We still live in the same town, and she’s in office sales and meets a lot of people. I just smile back and say hello, or if they do call me her name, I explain that I’m her twin. Most of them don’t know, after all.
I’m often telling people this very same advice. Try (we won’t be insulted) or ask!
Ianne~
my mom calls us “the girls”, too! And then my poor little sister (as if she’s NOT a girl, and not included) is called by her name. “The girls and Becca”, she’ll say…