THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 5, 1995 TAG: 9502030236
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Susie Stoughton
LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines
Babies are beautiful, most moms can tell you.
So what could be twice as nice as a wonderful little bundle of joy?
Twins, Cindy Campbell says from experience; they double your pleasure and double your fun.
Some of us might think that sounds like double work, quadruple headaches and practically no sleep for what seems an interminable first couple of years. And that's not even thinking ahead to prom dresses, college tuition and weddings.
But Campbell, who also has a 10-year-old son, loves every minute of motherhood. And you're not seeing double when you see her four-year-old beauties - Krystal and Tiffany.
Campbell just curls two sets of hair, picks out identical velvet outfits and lace-trimmed socks, then watches as the girls entertain one another.
And if that sounds easy, perhaps it's partly because she's survived the ``trying threes,'' when the girls had given up their naps and hadn't quite yet figured out the purpose of the porcelain potty.
But despite any temporary inconveniences, Campbell says she and her husband, Carlisle, are twice blessed.
Carlisle Campbell - an electrician at the Newport News Shipyard - has enjoyed spending time with the dainty duo recently while recuperating from injuries from an accident in late November.
``I see what Mom goes through every day,'' he said. ``They keep you rolling.''
Wanda Harris, the Campbells' neighbor and another mother of twins, said the youngsters often have more than twice as much energy as mom.
Her rough-and-tumble twosome - Nathan and Brandon, who will be two in a couple of weeks - have learned to climb out of their cribs. To keep an eye on them until they fall asleep for naps, she rests on the floor between them, sometimes catching a wink or two herself.
``They are a lot of fun,'' Harris said, ``but it's also trying at times.''
She enjoys being a double-duty mom, although she admits that twins can be a difficult initiation to motherhood.
She and her husband, Alan - a counselor at Paul D. Camp Community College - immediately jumped from a household of two to a family of four.
To share experiences with other mothers of twins and to give the children a chance to play together, Campbell has organized Twins R Us. She said there was no twins' group in Suffolk, although there had been years ago.
The gatherings are designed to help both mothers and children.
``We let the children play and share things,'' Campbell says. ``It's been a great source of support.''
They meet once a month, usually on a Saturday morning so working moms can come. There's only one requirement: Mom, dad or both must stay for the fun. The activities are not billed as ``Mom's Day Out'' but a chance for the twins to realize there are other twins who share their circumstance.
And it's a way for mothers of twins to share ``horror stories,'' tales of adventure and words of encouragement with the others.
``We have a common goal,'' Campbell said. ``We enjoy being with our children. We enjoy being mothers of twins.''
Most of the gatherings have attracted seven or eight sets of twins. And everyone has been willing to help with the activities, Campbell said.
People who haven't had twins often offer her sympathy, she said.
``Everyone says, `Better you than me,' '' Campbell said. ``And, `Double trouble.' But I always say, `Double the blessing.' I sincerely mean that.'' MEMO: The next meeting of ``Twins R Us'' will be a Valentine Party at 10
a.m. Feb. 11 at Magnolia United Methodist Church on Wilroy Road,
Suffolk. Twins, triplets or other multiple siblings are invited to
attend with at least one parent. For more information, call Cindy
Campbell, 539-7472 or Lorrie Gaskins, 657-9354.
ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
With twins there's double the fun for, left to right, Nathan Harris;
Cynthia, Tiffany and Krystal Campbell; and Wanda and Brandon
Harris.
by CNB