It's Twins!
Foreword by Vonetta Flowers, Olympic Gold Medalist and Mother of Twins
As any parent of twins knows, twins are a double blessing—but also a double challenge! What a wonderful gift you’ve been given to be the parent of multiples! Of course, you know this and treasure your special role, but you’ve also discovered that life takes on an added dimension of upheaval when your kids arrive as a set! These challenges are unique to those in the “multiples club,” and therefore standard parenting books are often inadequate to address the needs of families with twins (or more). 
That’s why this book, It's Twins!, is so very helpful to parents like you who are navigating the turbulent waters of parenthood with twins. It offers stories and advice tailored to your own unique family situation. It encourages you to really appreciate your very special children, as well as learn how to handle the extra needs that accompany them.
Each chapter includes many real-life stories from twin parents. These heartwarming, often humorous tales will inspire you to treasure your little miracles and “hang in there” when times are tough. The stories are accompanied by helpful advice from the author and other parents of twins. Also included are “quick tips” on raising twins (something we can all use!), twin trivia and interesting facts, and other fascinating information about twins. Finally, a journal section with guided questions will encourage you to record your own special moments and memories in living life with twins.
It's Twins! is the “go-to guide” for all parents of multiples, whether you’re a brand-new parent, racing after toddlers, having fun with school-aged kids or raising adolescent twins. With lots of common sense, humor and parental input, this book is sure to put the fun and love back into your ever-challenging role of raising twins!
PRAISE FOR IT’S TWINS
“Writing in a humorous, take-no-prisoners style, mother-of-twins Heim (coauthor, Oh, Baby!: 7 Ways a Baby Will Change Your Life the First Year) arranges her book into four sections: 'Babies,' 'Toddlers and Preschoolers,' 'Kids,' 'Tweens and Teens.' Each section contains practical, thoughtful, and often hilarious contributions (e.g., 'The Public Puke') by various writers, none famous but all good at spinning a yarn. There are trivia nuggets (no, twins don't skip a generation) as well as realistic, applicable tips that only a parent of multiples could possibly appreciate (e.g., tandem breastfeeding, telling identical twins apart, tag-team sleeping, mischievousness and conspiracies, when/if to separate twins in classrooms). Book club-style follow-up questions, 'Points To Ponder,' are designed to encourage reflection and perspective and work surprisingly well. Never sugarcoating the difficulties, Heim, a former senior editor for the 'Chicken Soup for the Soul' series, has taken a similar approach here but added more meat. Her winning book will make a worthy addition to the wimpy selection of materials on parenting multiples. Equally applicable to those expecting and experiencing twins; highly recommended for all parenting collections.”
—reviewed by Julianne J. Smith, Ypsilanti Dist. Lib., MI for The Library Journal
“One of the coolest parts about being a mom of twin boys is that I have an escort for each arm.”
—Niki Taylor
Supermodel
“It’s a privilege to be associated with the NBA’s Orlando Magic, but an even greater honor for me is being a father to nineteen children, including a set of twins. There’s something special about multiples, and they have really brought a lot of joy to our family. Susan Heim’s book, It’s Twins! Parent-to-Parent Advice from Infancy Through Adolescence, is realistic about the challenges of raising twins, but what I like best is that it helps parents to see how blessed they are to have children, especially when they arrive as a twosome! Whether raising twins, triplets or more, every parent of multiples will find splendid advice and wonderful encouragement in this book.”
—Pat Williams
Senior Vice President of the NBA’s Orlando Magic and author of How to Be Like Coach Wooden
“As a medical doctor and father of seven, including twin boys, I see firsthand the challenges faced by parents raising multiples. Susan Heim has written a valuable resource that’s full of advice from the real ‘experts’—parents of twins and triplets. It’s Twins! should be prescribed for every family with multiples.”
—Andrew Smith, M.D.
“I am a twin. Growing up as a matched pair in the eyes of others can make it harder to develop as an individual. I still recall the competition between my brother and me throughout our childhood. It wasn’t until we went to separate colleges that I felt free to be my own person rather than half of a set. In It’s Twins! Parent-to-Parent Advice from Infancy Through Adolescence, Susan Heim really captures the issues that families of multiples encounter and provides helpful solutions for parents raising twins like me.”
—William Shoemaker
President, Foresight Digital Company
“I wish this book had been around when I was raising two sets of twins along with our two other children! Susan Heim really understands what it’s like to raise multiples, and she offers such useful and entertaining advice for tackling the challenges of raising twins. And the stories and wisdom from other parents of multiples come straight from the ‘experts’ who really know what it’s like to have twins. If you’re raising multiples, take it from me: You need It’s Twins!”
—Dolores Janer
mother and grandmother
“Even though this book wasn’t available when my eight-year-old twin boys were babies, I’m thrilled to find that It’s Twins! still has lots of great material for my family. With sections on raising twins through the school years and adolescence, I’ll be using this book for years to come! And I’ve even found myself going back to read the parts about raising infant and toddler twins because the stories bring back so many memories of craziness and sleepless nights. My house is still a mess and life is still a whirlwind (I also have a ten-year-old daughter), but raising twins has been one of the greatest experiences of my life!”
—Joan Aresco
mother of twins
Available from Hampton Roads Publishing Co. at www.hamptonroadspub.com or 1-800-766-8009.