School laws and multiples

This morning, I am furiously doing the last of my "company cleaning" before Tara gets here. I'm a bit tired, as I was awake from 2:45am - 4:30 am. For some reason, if something wakes me up between the hours of 2 and 4, I'm done for. I believe this stems from being pregnant with the BBGs (Big Baby Girls) last summer. For simulation, tonight before you go to sleep, drink 2 gallons of water, chase it with habanero sauce, and sleep with 2 bowling balls on your gut. This morning it was Brodie who woke me, trying to crawl into our bed. After returning him to his bed, I stayed up and read my Twins magazine.

Currently, a very big issue for parents of multiples is a push for state and federal legislation allowing parents to decide whether or not to separate their children in school. As a parent of twins AND an as an elementary teacher, I was shocked to learn that some schools force twins and higher order multiples into separate classrooms. At the schools that I have been at, I will admit we would separate twins if the parents did not make any requests regarding their children. I also know that whenever parents did request that their twins were placed together, we honored the request.

Apparently, some teachers and administrators feel that twins should be separated so that they "develop their own personalities." My girls aren't even 8 months old, and they have their own personalities. These educators also claim that separation is so that multiples are not "compared." If you don't compare multiples, especially those who are identical or look VERY similar, how will you learn to tell them apart? They're twins. They are going to be compared their entire lives, no matter what you do!

Does this mean all twins should be placed together? No. Some twins don't do well together at all in school. Does this mean that we plan to put C&C together in school? Not necessarily. We have time to think about it. My feeling now, is that I would like them together at first. They have shared everything since before they were born. They are their own support system. I don't want to take that away from them until they are ready. I know many of you aren't affected, but please think about it. Shouldn't parents have the choice? Please go to www.twinlegislation.com to read more about it, or http://www.petitiononline.com/ryannick/ .