Wanting an insight to how it is to have twins, we interviewed Ulrike, a mom of twin boys Arne & Philipp aged 18months.

Where are you originally from and how did you end up in Lausanne?

Germany, we moved here because of my husband’s work.

Q1) When did you know you were expecting twins and how did you feel? When did you know that you were expecting two boys?

Already in week 8 and I liked it right from the beginning.The doctor was already pretty sure in week 8 that one of them would be a boy.With the other one he thought so as well, but he was definitely sure about it in week 13. So it took two screenings to be sure about the genders.

Q2) What was the reaction from your family members and friends?

Everybody was excited and saw that as something special.

The grandparents enjoyed the idea of getting two grandchildren at one time. Beside that it was not such a surprise, as in my family and the family of my husband, there are quite some twins. I have five other friends that have twins as well !!

Q3) How do you shop for the twins ? Do you buy the same thing for both of them? How did you decorate their room(s)?

We treat them as the two personalities they are, they don’t dress the same and have different toys as well. They sleep in one room which doesn’t look different as the one for one child, I suppose-except the two beds of course.

Q4) What is the best part of having twins ?

I think there is nothing better for the kids as being raising as a twin. They are never alone and always have someone who is in the same stage of developing. We don’t need to go out to find playmates or friends as they have each other. For us as parents, it is something really special to have two kids like that. I think it feels more like a “family” being the four of us I suppose.

Q5) How do you manage? Any help hired?

Most of the time I am on my own with the boys as our families live in Germany. My parents are here quite often so I find time to relax and do something for myself on my own when they are here.

We think about having an au pair, but prefer sending the boys to a kindergarten where they experience being together with other children from different cultures. They have just started last week.

Regarding the prices in Switzerland for childcare, it will be either that or an au pair.

Q6) What do you do on the weekends? Do you have any favorite places to go with the family? How are the boys with their father?

Family stuff with the four of us, just like any other family as well (playground, day trips and so on ) We don’t have any favorite place in particular but we like walking at the seaside, and we also love the mountains as well

I definitely find that on the weekends that I am more at ease to do things because my husband is there. During the week I barely have time to do anything else than attend to the kids. With my husband around taking care of the boys, I get something done, like things for the household, sports, shopping and so on.

The boys love being together with their father – As soon as he enters the room I am out of the game !! My husband enjoys every minute with them and is used to be alone with them, more or less from beginning.

I was not able to breastfeed them completely so I was “replaceable”. My husband did the night shifts in the first weeks so I got some sleep and he has spent weekends alone with the boys when I went on girls-trips or visited friends of mine. So he is also very close with them, which is extremely important for the kids but also for himself.

Q7) You did a workshop at Atelier 3 petits points making a height chart for the boys. How was the experience with the twins?

Fantastic !! At the beginning, I doubted if it will work out as two hours can be very long for children at that age. But they played nicely and liked the different environment and different toys.

Q8) Any advise & tips to those who are expecting twins?

It is a job to do and can be quite a stress as you always have to share your attention. The older they become there are things you can’t really do alone with the two of them (e.g. Go for a coffee in the city because you just have two hands!). But the advantages are more important and make it a wonderful time being together with twins. They play together and the older they are, your role is more to control that they don’t do anything stupid. They have each other and don’t need you as an adult all the time. They learn to wait from the beginning and each of them learns that he is not the only or most important one. Expecting and having twins wonderful and it is a very special thing that everybody should be grateful for !!