I used to be one of those people that rolled my eyes at ALLLLLL the pictures parents posted of their kids on the first day of school. A good week to take a break from Facebook if you ask me… because you’re missing nothing. Well today I’m eating my words, because the girls started PRESCHOOL this morning. 
As you can see 50% of my small litter of children are stoked. The other 50% is whining about the sun in her eyes. I wasn’t sure how I (or the girls) would handle this big life event, but everything went smoothly… without any tears! 
I had a whole 2.5 hours all to myself. This is going to be a bit of a conundrum, because it’s not really enough time to drive all the way back home. I mean it is, but not so worth it. Today I ran some errands, and read a book in the car with the windows rolled down. I was glad I was close by, because I got to see this happen! SO CUTE! 
We decided to put the girls in separate classes. We were given the option, and we feel that they could really benefit from being apart and allowing their separate personalities to develop. It will be fascinating to watch this school year play out, and see how they grow and develop! Girlfriends have been pretty isolated out on our acreage for the last 3 years, so it will be good for them to learn to play and interact with others. I wish I could be a fly on the wall and watch them in class every day! Ok not really… I got things to do y’all. Are YOUR kids pumped for this school year? If you have twins, do you have them in the same class or separate? I would love to hear stories and opinions on this matter! I love chatting it up with other twin mamas! 
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My twin boys were in kindergarten together because it was the only French one in the area, but the teacher kept trying to separate them (they weren’t allowed to eat lunch together). So the school decided to put them in separate grade one class. It didn’t go well so I fought to have them in the same class the next year. I then took them out of that school and they were in the same class until high school. To this day, they still chose to do things together. For the last few years, one worked at A&W and the other at McDonald’s, but they realized that they didn’t have enough social time together so as of the 5th, they will both be working at A&W! Let your twins decide what they want to do because they usually know at a very early age.
I have 6 year old twin boys. When they went into pre-school I left them in the same class because I felt bad splitting them up and I was always so torn because you’re absolutely right, they need to flourish on their own. I found that they would only want to be around eachother and not the other kids. So when they went into kindergarten I put them in separate classes…. BEST.CHOICE.EVER! They each have their own little friends, they were learning the material better and they became more independant at home too. They are now going into first grade and we still have them inseparate classes and they are still eachothers best friends! 🙂
Sweet, so sweet. Just wanna mention, 26 yrs ago I sent my 1st off to school w/his name on his backpack. His teacher requested that I cover his name so that strangers could not call out to him. This had not occurred to me. Thought I’d share.
My twins ( b/g) are adults now. We had them together in Pre-k, but separated from Kindy on-looking back, I can say it was a good way for them to develop into more of their own person and not be so twin-centric.
My daughter is the dominate twin, and her brother is the laid back one, and I didn’t want their natural competition to be yet another thing for the teacher/themselves to deal with in the classroom. My son needed to be given some space from his “other mother” ( as we called daughter some days, LOL) so he could really investigate life from his perspective.
They both did well in school. They both did well in college. They are still as close as ever, which makes me smile. Separating them for a few hours a day will not break that twin bond-I don’t think anything can!
My twin boys are now 14. They were in the same preschool classes but we separated them starting in kindergarten. It really was best for their personalities to develop. Also one of my boys has some struggles with school and the other one is advanced. So I was glad they weren’t in the same class comparing their grades and homework which may have led to poor self esteem for the one. Also when they make their own friends they are invited to separate birthday parties anyway. One of my boys wanted to invite another twin from school to his birthday and that twin’s father called me and said he wanted his other son to come too “because they’re twins you know.” UGH! I couldn’t believe it! Made me happy I was letting my twins develop on their own.
That’s exactly why I want them separated… at least for now. We’ll just take one year at a time. And soon they’ll be old enough that we can ask what THEY want. I hope they can have their own friends and their own lives… while still being best buddies. There are so many little hurdles to jump with twins… and this is only the beginning! 🙂
Beth, I am so excited for all of you!! To hear all about their day will be a lot of fun for you and Nick. I thought about the little book of first day at school for twins I gave you at your baby shower, and wondered if you had shared it recently with the girls! One thing I miss (not the cost, though) is the day we would go to the store to shop for school supplies. It can be tedious, esp. when a teacher wants certain colors of folders that no stores carry, and even tho we had leftovers from the previous year, I just liked getting new for them…..how many pairs of scissors DO we own around here??!! Enjoy, Beth…..it does go by faster than you can imagine!! Share their adventures with us, ok??
Kathy! That book is one of their favorites! We’ve read it soooooo many times. And I read it that morning before we left for their first day of school! They were so excited!
We have fraternal twin girls. They stay at home with daddy while mommy works. Last year they started preschool attending 2 – 1/2 days a week and to our disappointment were put in separate classes. Their teachers (one which is a twin and one who has 2 sets of twins) encouraged us to try it out, so we did. Things went well except our girls are completely different. Lil loves to learn, help, and pick up and caught on so well. Em has to be reminded, reinforced, assisted, reminded…you get the picture. Both of their teachers were great, but in different ways. Lil’s teacher had high expectations and was very structured. Em’s teacher is loving and caring and the sweetest thing ever. I wish they had the opposite teachers because Lil jumped way ahead of Em. I do not blame anyone, after all they are individuals and I know that I should not compare them. I just think that if they had the same teacher they me be more on the same page or have the same chance at learning (if that makes sense). To be completely honest, having them in the same class is a little selfish also. The teachers in our district can have completely different lessons and take home activities but be teachingthe same letter, number, etc… It would be a lot easier to sit down with both girls and do the same homework at night. So, we discussed all of this with the teachers and principal and decided they should be in the same class this year.
Fast forward……2wks ago……we get the pre-k class lists….not only are they in separate classes, but separate buildings in the school district!!! This momma had a meltdown, which was resolved after a few (several) phone calls with the principal and the superintendent. They started school last Thursday and will be attending 5 – 1/2 days a week and are in the same class! They have a teacher I had not met before, but I am impressed so far. On “Meet the Teacher” night she spent extra time with me discussing the girls. She shared with me that she had been doing some extra reading on having twins in the same class (NOTE: she only knew she would have twins 2 days before this meeting). We discussed their differences and similarities and the fact that we still want them treated as individuals. We also discussed goals for each of the girls and how Em may be a challenge, where Lil will likely be the teacher’s helper.
I am really excited for this school year and the consistency with attending 5 days and having the same teacher. This will help us to decide what to do for kindergarten next year (booohoooo….I can’t believe they will be in kindergarten!!!)
Wow! Soooo much good information! My twins are very different too, so I’m curious to see if they will both excel being separated, or if one will pull ahead. I think we all just want what’s right for each of our twins individually, but sometimes it’s SO HARD to know what that is! We’ll be taking each year at a time and just see how things good. I’m hoping my ‘follower’ will become more decisive and independent. And hoping my ‘leader’ will be put in her place sometimes HAHA! Thanks for sharing all your insight! I hope your girls have a great school year!
I have identical twin girls heading into 5th grade. I spent many hours debating with many people about keeping them together or splitting them up after kindergarten. It finally occurred to me to ask them. Without hesitating, Avery said, “if I am not with Lily, I will always be wondering what she is doing and how she is. If she is with me I will be able to concentrate on learning. ” Problem solved. Each year the thee of us meet with their teacher to figure out the plan for the following year. I always thought I knew my girls better than anyone, but they taught me that they are the ones who know each other best. Good Luck!
That’s so sweet what your little one said about her sister! I love that you just asked them. I definitely plan to do that when they’re a few years older. 🙂
I took pictures of my son’s first day from Kindergarten to 12th grade, same spot on the porch. It’s fun to look back and see the changes. By High School it was hard to get a smile, but he stood for the picture every year. I even got him to stand for a first year college & a grad. picture for college in the same spot. He went to school in Boston so the spot was on The Boston Common. All the pictures are displayed on a gallery wall, and I love looking at them. It makes me smile every time I see them.:) Have fun with your first day pictures.
I love that idea! What a fun way to look back on his school years!
I have twin daughters who are now 13. When they were in preschool, I had no choice but to have them in the same class and that was fine. However, when they started Kindergarten, my husband and I and their preschool teacher thought they would be fine in different classes. They are identical twins, so there was also the issue of people not being able to tell them apart when they are together. They had no issues at all being in separate classes, so we’ve always felt like we made the right decision. If I had to do it over again, I would work harder at making sure they each make some of their own friends. That has been the hardest issue for us over the years. They have tended to share friends and that has caused problems sometimes. A few years ago they became friends with another set of twins and that has been great for them. I love reading about your twins. They are so cute! Enjoy your little slice of alone time. You have earned it!!!!
I love that your twins found another set of twins to become friends with! I’m also a little anxious about how the whole friend thing will play out, but we can only take one day at a time. Thanks for sharing your experience!
I have 6 year-old twins (boy/girl) and they’ve been in separate classes the last two years. In the district where we live, it’s kind of an unwritten policy that twins are separated unless parents request that they’re together. I wasn’t concerned about it when they started school. Like you, they had spent so much time together that I could see how they would benefit from time apart. And, let’s be honest, we (the parents) know how different our kids are from one another. I hate that people assume, because they’re twins, that they’re the same kid. They learn differently, they socialize differently, they have different personalities. I would say, if they’re doing well apart, don’t put them in the same classroom just because it’s convenient. I love that our twins have their own little “world” of friends and teachers and mentors as a result of the separation. It has really been a confidence boost for the two of them and, at the end of the day, they always come home and find their “together” place. I imagine your girls do too!
I’m so glad to hear that it was a confidence boost for your twins to be in separate classes! I’m very curious to see how this year plays out with the girls.
Ok I will be crying this year our milestone is I have A senior in high school his last first day of school but I am so proud of the man he has become. I also have a sophomore and a 7th grader so proud of them as well .
I so dreamed of always wanting twin girls but I ended up with all boys at my house and No twins that is okay though I’ll take them.
Your girls are so adorable .
We have 3 year old twin girls that will be starting pre-school in two weeks. They are our oldest so this whole school thing is a little daunting. I was so torn about whether or not to put them in the same classroom or not. However, I really wanted them to develop more independence from each other and be their own little selves. They are going to be in two different classes so we will see how it goes. I think they will always be in two different classes because I want them to do their own things and have their own friends. I think that if they were together, they’d automatically just play with each other and not take a step out of their comfort zones. Congratulations mama on such a milestone! It’s amazing how fast time flies. Our youngest (who is a surprise singleton since we had our twins through IVF) just turned a year. Everything just goes so quickly.
I don’t have twins, but this year I have the pleasure of teaching 3 sets of twins and 2 out of a set triplets. I am not sure what was in the water that year, but I think there is another set of twins at the school this year that I do not teach at all. Of the multiples I do teach, only one set of twins have my class together. I think girlfriends will enjoy having their own classes.
I was really on the fence when I thought about whether or not to split up our boys for school. There was something comforting (for me!) about the idea of my boys not being completely alone during the school transition. Then real life happened and one of our boys had/has a speech delay and I think it is so important for him to have his own space where he isn’t being compared to his brother and his brother isn’t talking for him (so we do separate preschools). I think it has been really good for them to have that separation (they share everything else!) to just be their own people. Not to mention they don’t have to deal with classmates/teachers mixing them up (ours are identical). We plan to keep them separated when they start kindergarten in a couple years.
My twins will definitely be separated in Kindergarten next year. I think it will be good for them to learn to be independent, a skill they haven’t quite mastered due to their circumstance of being together all the time.
Random question…are you calling Adelyn “Della”? I couldn’t help notice her backpack stated that was her name. 🙂
Love, Cryst
Yep! We started calling her Dell starting at about 4 months, and it just stuck. We weren’t planning on having a nickname, but it’s just one of those things that happened. 🙂 I guess we took her nickname from the ‘middle’ of her name instead of the beginning. Weird! I know! Miss you Cryst 🙂
My twins are 3 but they won’t go to pre-school until next year. I think I’ll try putting them in different classrooms, but I’m really not sure about it. I hope it goes well for your girls!
Exciting! I’ll keep you posted!
When I was pregnant with our twins, the mother of teenage twins told me to fight to keep them in the same class because (1) the homework will be the same and (2) otherwise the birthday party schedule will drive you crazy. We’ve kept ours together and I totally see her point.
A very wise twin-mother told me the same thing! And I think we’ll probably move them to the same classes as they get into elementary school and have loads of homework. It will be so much easier to keep track of everything.
I think that there are so many other benefits to separate classes–those two reasons sound like lazy parenting to me. Let them have their own lives and development schedule, because they will anyway.
Are they going to sonshine? That’s where Gwen went last year and loved it! We are going to GR preschool this year since we live here, but we will sure miss everyone at Sonshine!
Yes they’re going to Sunshine! They liked it! As far as I can tell… haha! 😉
Hey! I have a daughter named Gwen…there aren’t enough of them out there in my opinion! And I graduated from GR. Small world! My Gwen is 9 at Hudson. Beth, I can’t believe how grown up the adorable girls are! I love watching them grow!
A week from today my youngest will be a teenager!
I feel you on the not-worth-driving-home thing. It is a recurring issue when you live 11-17 miles from the towns in the school district. Plus we open enroll, so there is no bussing them home. My 12 year old will have soccer next month from 5:30-6:30 2 days a week. I work till 4:30, so it’s not worth going home with the girls then and turning back right away, other than the fact my older one can be at home then. So that leaves me with 1 hour to kill with both kids, and one hour to kill with one kid while practice is on (not to mention the two of them have already spent 1 hour waiting for me to get off work). Hopefully she can just go to a friend’s house after school most times, go with her to soccer, and I’ll just come back in at 6:30. Just one example of the price we pay for living in the boonies! Not a lot of diversions in the little towns, either…
However, my oldest has a school permit and will be 16 (!) next month…that helps.
Ugh! Frustrating, right?! We love living in the country, but I can see this getting old really fast. 🙂 We’re considering having them stay for the afternoon program so I can at least get things done at home between dropoff and pick-up. We’ll see. 🙂
Cute!! I have a freshman, sixth grader and 2nd grader!! It all goes fast so enjoy!! 🙂
Wow what a mommy-milestone… a HIGH-SCHOOLER?! That seems sooooo far away, but I know it’s right around the corner!
Hugs to you momma! Mine started Kindergarten this year. The twins are my youngest and my last so it was extra bittersweet. They have been in the same class, but being boy girl I think it’s different because they have different friends and play with different things so there isn’t as much competition. although they say they are scared without one another there when one has been sick at home they still trot happily to school. I will keep them together as long as I don’t run into problems.. I like that they have the same homework and instruction and what not. Makes my life easier. Good luck to you! And enjoy your little breaks 🙂
That makes a lot of sense with boy/girl twins. Della is such a follower, and I want her to have an opportunity to let her personality develop apart from Paisley. I hope I’m not making a mistake! 🙂