We recently signed up for a "Mother's Day Out" program at Donna's church so that she could have one day a week to herself. The applications were quite elaborate, bringing back memories of college applications. There was even an essay part! Well, not an essay, but it asked to write a paragraph describing the child.
This was disturbingly difficult. I had a hard time describing them without comparing them. That seems like a cardinal sin for a parent of a twin: they are not defined by each other but by their own unique attributes. The exercise showed me I need to do a better job of appreciating them as individuals rather than as part of a pair.
Donna worked on this a while and came up with some lovely descriptions of them without using the words "more than". They are reproduced below.
Amanda
Amanda is an observer. She likes to watch carefully for a while before tyring a new activity. She is sometimes slow to warm up to people but can be very affectionate when she's comfortable.
Amanda's favorite activities are reading, coloring, playing with musical toys, and petting our dog, Foxy. She has a long attention span and can play independently.
Amanda really likes our daily routine. She will stand by the stroller when it's time for a walk or scoot her booster seat away from the table when it's time to eat even before a parent mentions the activity. She gleefully participates in even the most mundane task (such as brushing teeth) when it's part of the established routine.
Elena
Elena is a physically adventurous child who loves to run, climb, slide, and tumble. Sometimes she moves just for the sheer joy of movement. She also likes to dance and splash. Her favorite quiet activities are being read to and stacking blocks.
Elena has an easy smile and quickly warms up to new people and new situations. After a hard day of play, she readily naps while snuggling her soft stuffed puppy and blanket. Sometimes she sings or hums herself to sleep.