Womb Twin Kids Aged 8-12 Years
At this age, children are ready for some more in-depth information. They also want reassurance that how they are feeling is normal.
Common problems at this age:
Unexplained bouts of crying or sadness
Preoccupation with death and dying
Yearning for a pet
Fear of being alone in the dark
Gender confusion - (eg. A girl wanting to be a boy, or vice versa)
Self isolation (ie. spending a long time alone by choice)
Feeling different
A major problem for all children at this age is peer pressure - wanting to "fit in" and be acceptable to other children. Womb twin survivors feel different from other children, simply because they have had a rather unusual prenatal experience, not shared by their peers. They often fear rejection. We now know that these children are responding to their prenatal experience in a completely normal way. It is important for both adults and children to recognise this.
What parents can do to help and support their child:
* Understand that the loss of a twin before or around birth has a real physical and emotional effect.
* The lost twin is an important person in the life of your little womb twin survivor.
* It is normal if your child has a sense of their twin still "with them" in some way.
* Your child will need a surrogate twin. If he or she shows an undue attachment to one particular individual, this person may have become the "surrogate twin." If the person concerned makes a complaint, this tendency can be explained and the relationship negotiated by all the parties involved.
