Mothers of twins count their blessings twice

As mothers all over get ready to celebrate their special day, those who welcomed more than one children into the world at once are especially counting their blessings.

Mother’s Day is always a happy occasion for Ginny Walsh, of Seaford, whose twins, Sydney and Daniel, are 8 years old. “It’s wonderful,” she said. “I’m especially happy that I had a boy and a girl.”

Walsh said that while the first year as she learned to take care of two babies at the same time, it has been nice since then having them go through their milestones together, such as entering kindergarten.

‘The thing I like best,” she said of her second-graders, “is that I can experience everything with them together.”

Hope Morreale, of Seaford, has identical twin girls, Stella and Paige. The 10-year-olds are in fifth grade at the Manor School. She also has a 13-year-old son.

“I feel like I won the Lotto, and I really mean that,” she said. “I always wanted twins.”

Only three out of every 1,000 sets of twins are identical, so Morreale said it is extra special that it happened to her. “I think that’s what makes life so interesting,” she said.

Morreale explained that while her girls may look alike, their personalities are very different, and as they get older the differences grow. Paige is the only girl on an otherwise all-boys youth baseball team, while Stella is her “girly girl.” They both like to dance, she added, and always have each other’s backs — especially when it comes to their brother.

She also makes sure to spend some time alone with each girl. “It shows them that we don’t lump them together,” she said. “We truly feel that their identity is so unique.”

Walsh said she takes the same approach with her two children. Even though they have a close bond — Sydney and Daniel share a room — they have different needs and require some time alone with their mom. Her daughter is her shopping companion, while she and her son like to watch movies together.

Daniel is the more outgoing of the two, Walsh explained. But even though their personalities may differ, they have made many of the same friends over their three years of school.

Walsh added that she has a cousin with twins, who are now 20, but overall it is a rare occurrence in her family.

Morreale said that her twins are the first set on her side of the family, but their third set on her husband’s side. The first year after Paige and Stella were born, Morreale said, she hardly remembers sleeping or eating, as she was raising two babies and taking care of a 3-year-old at the same time.

“I just think having twins is one of the coolest things I’ve ever done in my life,” she said. “It’s my claim to fame.”