Bittersweet
I think most parents would agree that each passing stage of their child's life is bittersweet. While it is exciting to see how our children change and grow, every new development often reflects a loss of something else. As my Turtles turn one, I feel this in a very profound way. In what has been the fastest year of my life, I look toward their birthday with a great sadness that is only mildly offset by relief. This may be a common feeling for mothers of multiples but it doesn't make it any easier. Jude Bug and Ellie Bean have brought me great joy this past year but I would be dishonest if I didn't acknowledge that the joy was deeply mitigated by the fact that I spent the vast majority of our time purely focused on our survival. There was never any time to focus on tiny fingers wrapped around my own. There was hardly a moment when I could marvel at the miracle of two full-term, full-sized babies my husband and I created. ...