Once a Twin Mum, Always a Twin Mum

A story of motherhood, connection, and community – from the 80s to today

I was so thrilled when I found out I was having my twins. After they were born, I even got a card from a lady who’d been in the waiting room when I went in for the scan - I guess she must’ve remembered my name. It’s those little moments of kindness that stick with you.

My twins were the wonderful bonus that came when I reconciled with my husband after we’d been separated for nearly four years. At the time, I was living in a two-bedroom flat, and when the twins came along, we had to upsize quickly! My older son was nearly eight years old when the twins were born, so suddenly I had three boys under one roof.

My connection with the Multiples Hutt Valley (back then it was called the Gemini Club), goes right back to 1986, when James and Mark were three years old and my older son, Jason, was 11 years old. I started going to a few meetings at a community house in Lower Hutt. Back then, playgroups and clothes swaps were really popular.

But living in Wainuiomata, I knew it could be a bit of a trek over the hill to Lower Hutt for other mums. So, I got in touch with the Plunket nurses to help find twin families nearby and ended up forming a little group of our own. There were two sets of twins just across the road from me! In the end, I connected with about six other mums and we took turns meeting at each other’s homes. Once, I even had 18 children at my house for one of the meetings!

I’m still friends with one of those mums today. She told me she remembers meeting me in the supermarket in Wainuiomata, where I invited her to join our group. Her twins are just a few days older than mine. Another set of twins across the road had a birthday the day after mine - so for one day each year, all four boys were the same age!

Sadly, my marriage didn’t last, and we separated again four years later. I know what it’s like to be a solo mother of three sons. My twins were so different in many ways, but the bond they had, there’s nothing quite like it.

We moved to Te Awamutu in January 1988 when the twins were five and my eldest was 13. I ended up moving back to the Hutt Valley in 2010 due to family commitments. In 2021, I reached out to the Multiples Hutt Valley again to see if I could help out in any way. I started going along to the Friday playgroup at Knox Church and joined in on a few team meetings.

In 2023, I began making Izzy Dolls, and then I found a pattern for knitted sheep, which I really enjoy making. These get added to the Welcome Bags for new families. I’ve dropped a few off and love meeting the families - even if it’s just briefly at the door. It’s a small way to give back to a community that has meant so much to me over the years.

My sons are now 50 and 42 years old. Sadly, my youngest twin passed away in 2022 due to health complications, but I will always be the mother of twins. That bond - they say it’s like nothing else, and I truly believe that.

I want to thank the club for welcoming me back and allowing me to continue being part of this wonderful community. Even though I’m relocating to Cambridge in June, I still plan to keep knitting those little sheep and helping to keep the Welcome Bag supplies going. It’s my way of staying connected.

Written by long-time member and proud twin mum, Lynette Strawbridge