check-in day

[Guest guest]

Hi from Iowa! We just had our 3rd Annual Buddy Walk this past

Saturday. In the past two years, our average has been about 200

walkers. Well, this year over 600 people came to our event!

Unexpected, but exciting!! We also surpassed our goal of $15,000.

I have three sons - Austin (12), 9 1/2 year old twins (DS) and

Gabe. is in 3rd grade and doing well. His speech and

vocabulary have increased tremendously in the past year. He seems to

be retaining more information as well, as he can carry on full

conversations about some things he learned at school!

I'm not looking forward to the cold winter months here in Iowa. This

usually means lots of sinus infections...which leads to bad behavior.

It still amazes me how terrible will act for a few days, then lo

and behold he starts leaking green from his eyes, his nose, and his

ears. He gets put on an antibiotic, and his behavior improves!! Not a

fun deal, but we know to look for the green when he starts acting up!

[Guest guest]

Welcome to all the newcomers!

, I'd like to hear more about the Clicker 5, a word processsing program you mentioned. Our uses - I think it's Intellikey - the portable typing device.

Kay

Mom to Jon, Liz, (DS), 9 yrs old, Arlington, VA

This communication is the property of Qwest and may contain confidential or privileged information. Unauthorized use of this communication is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. If you have received this communication in error, please immediately notify the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the communication and any attachments.

[Guest guest]

We are sorry it's been a while since we last posted.

Here's an update on :

He is getting a little closer to walking every day. He can take about 5 steps independently. He puts on a little performance for us each night and we clap for him.

Today he wore his hearing aids for 2 hours at preschool (a record for him!).

He talks and babbles a little more each day too. He said "Bob the Builder" last week.

B., Mom to (DS, hydrocephalus) and , 3 and , 5.

[Guest guest]

Way to go for taking those steps....and for wearing your hearing aids for 2 hours at preschool!

Also, my daughter emailed me a story about a Senior with Down Syndrome who was crowned Queen! It's a very moving story.

I hope this finds you all doing well!

Joyce-wife to Mike 33 wonderful years!

mom to:

-32, Leah-31, Mikey-28, -25-DS, -23, -15-DS, and -11-DS/Autism

To: Multiples-DS From: lblackwood@...Date: Mon, 13 Oct 2008 10:00:45 -0700Subject: Re: Check-in Day

We are sorry it's been a while since we last posted.

Here's an update on :

He is getting a little closer to walking every day. He can take about 5 steps independently. He puts on a little performance for us each night and we clap for him.

Today he wore his hearing aids for 2 hours at preschool (a record for him!).

He talks and babbles a little more each day too. He said "Bob the Builder" last week.

B., Mom to (DS, hydrocephalus) and , 3 and , 5. See how Windows connects the people, information, and fun that are part of your life. See Now

[Guest guest]

Oops! I forgot to put the website of the Senior that was crowned Queen. It's a moving story.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=6025166 & page=1

I hope I did thie website correctly. Take care everyone1

Joyce

To: multiples-ds From: momjlf47@...Date: Wed, 15 Oct 2008 09:07:30 -0400Subject: RE: Re: Check-in Day

Way to go for taking those steps....and for wearing your hearing aids for 2 hours at preschool! Also, my daughter emailed me a story about a Senior with Down Syndrome who was crowned Queen! It's a very moving story.I hope this finds you all doing well! Joyce-wife to Mike 33 wonderful years!mom to:-32, Leah-31, Mikey-28, -25-DS, -23, -15-DS, and -11-DS/Autism

To: Multiples-DS From: lblackwoodsbcglobal (DOT) netDate: Mon, 13 Oct 2008 10:00:45 -0700Subject: Re: Check-in Day

We are sorry it's been a while since we last posted.

Here's an update on :

He is getting a little closer to walking every day. He can take about 5 steps independently. He puts on a little performance for us each night and we clap for him.

Today he wore his hearing aids for 2 hours at preschool (a record for him!).

He talks and babbles a little more each day too. He said "Bob the Builder" last week.

B., Mom to (DS, hydrocephalus) and , 3 and , 5.

See how Windows connects the people, information, and fun that are part of your life. See Now

See how Windows Mobile brings your life together—at home, work, or on the go. See Now

[Guest guest]

That is so great, way to go . He will be my inspiration in my hope that , who along with his brother will start school next month, will be walking soon! He is getting there!

a

mom to Meg14,Jack11,Lucy7,(DS) & 3 in 3 1/2 weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Check-in Day

We are sorry it's been a while since we last posted.

Here's an update on :

He is getting a little closer to walking every day. He can take about 5 steps independently. He puts on a little performance for us each night and we clap for him.

Today he wore his hearing aids for 2 hours at preschool (a record for him!).

He talks and babbles a little more each day too. He said "Bob the Builder" last week.

B., Mom to (DS, hydrocephalus) and , 3 and , 5.

McCain or Obama? Stay updated on coverage of the Presidential race while you browse - Download Now!

[Guest guest]

Congrats to and to you. It must feel so good to see the great progress he's making. xo maggie

Re: Check-in Day

We are sorry it's been a while since we last posted.

Here's an update on :

He is getting a little closer to walking every day. He can take about 5 steps independently. He puts on a little performance for us each night and we clap for him.

Today he wore his hearing aids for 2 hours at preschool (a record for him!).

He talks and babbles a little more each day too. He said "Bob the Builder" last week.

B., Mom to (DS, hydrocephalus) and , 3 and , 5.

[Guest guest]

Hello,

(DS-age 6) is doing well in 1st grade in her multidisabled class. She is in included for 30 min a day in a regular classroom for language arts and is also included in specials with a regular class. She just started a ballet class for special needs kids in which she really enjoys. She was in a regular dance school with typical kids 2 years ago which didn't work out. (typical-age 6) is doing ok in 1st grade. He plays soccer which he enjoys. We have an issue with his behavior- he is disruptive in class and not focused. We never had him tested for ADHD but will have him tested in the near future.

Mom of and -age 6

[Guest guest]

I don't know what nutrivene is but I'm looking forward to hearing people's answers on it. The past SEPTA president in my school district said there's a drug that parents use for children with DS before the age of 2 that improves cognitive skills. She says you have to go to Canada to get it and all the kids she knows that use it are cognitively intact (of course, mine are as well and they didn't take the drug so who's to say what would have happened w/o the drug intervention). Anyway, I wonder if this the same thing????? My guys are 3 1/2 but I'm curious to understand and see the research on what it is and how/how well it works.

xo maggie

Check-in Day

Hi everybody, and go to preschool every week from September. At startthey cry but now they are just fine.I must know if you use Nutrivene for your children, because inRomania a lot of parents use it and i want to know your point of viewabout this .Elena Vlad 9, (DS) and 2.

[Guest guest]

We don't use it. Try to eat healthy, whole foods. Did research when Davey was little, and it was SO expensive.mom to Amy 21, Kelsey 18, Davey (DS) 8 and Will 8Hi everybody, and go to preschool every week from September. At startthey cry but now they are just fine.I must know if you use Nutrivene for your children, because inRomania a lot of parents use it and i want to know your point of viewabout this .Elena Vlad 9, (DS) and 2.

[Guest guest]

The twins start school in 23 days!!!! is not yet walking

independently and we will be fitting him with a gait trainer next

week. Lucky for us:), qualified for preschool with due

to his speech delay. At least they will be together, is very

protective of his little big brother. They are looking less and less

like twins and we get a lot of quizzical looks when we say, 'oh, they

are twins,' We are considering some really sarcastic T shirts but it

is probably not appropriate. I do, however, proudly display my " My

Kid Has More Chromosomes Than Yours!' bumper sticker, it is right next

to my honor student stickers!!!!! Happy Fall.

a

mom to Meg14,Jack11,Lucy7,(DS) & almost 3

[Guest guest]

Dear Maggie, is the same thing! Nutrivene is recommended by the trisomy 21 research foundation and they consider that is not a drug ,they say Nutrivene is a dietary supplement. is more active and he is saying more new words since we administrate Nutrivene. He is 2 years old and he is walking without any help since he has 1 1/2 years. I know that Nutrivene is made in USA. I receive from Great Britain because I live in Romania. I m interesting to know parent s opinion about Nutrivene. Thank you for your answer. Elena Check-in Day

Hi everybody, and go to preschool every week from September. At startthey cry but now they are just fine.I must know if you use Nutrivene for your children, because inRomania a lot of parents use it and i want to know your point of viewabout this .Elena Vlad 9, (DS) and 2.

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Where do you get a bumper sticker like that? I would love one (or two) since both of my twins have DS (identical).

xo maggie

Olivia '01, & ('05 (IDs w/ DS)

check-in day

The twins start school in 23 days!!!! is not yet walkingindependently and we will be fitting him with a gait trainer nextweek. Lucky for us:), qualified for preschool with dueto his speech delay. At least they will be together, is veryprotective of his little big brother. They are looking less and lesslike twins and we get a lot of quizzical looks when we say, 'oh, theyare twins,' We are considering some really sarcastic T shirts but itis probably not appropriate. I do, however, proudly display my "MyKid Has More Chromosomes Than Yours!' bumper sticker, it is right nextto my honor student stickers!!!! ! Happy Fall.a mom to Meg14,Jack11, Lucy7,( DS) & almost 3

[Guest guest]

You are most likely referring to piracetam (it's been so long I don't even know if I am spelling it right now). There are very few (if no) drugs, FDA approved; that you will be able to get via Canada quicker then in the states...we are years behind and are more stringent in allowing new drugs on the market (in general). Piracetam can be bought in Mexico without a prescription and it is true that it can be shipped from Canada IF you have a prescription BUT I have found it difficult to get such things (ie prescription) in regards to administering it to an infant with ds as that is not the intended use for piracetam.

NuTriVene D is US and MSB+ is Canada. IF you are old enough (as I am) to remember there is a history and MSB+ is, for lack of a better word; a "knock off" of NuTriVene-D. Both companies now have years of studies behind them but I do find it interesting that the parties originally behind NuTriVene-D started the research because of having children with ds and the parties behind MSB+ never had any children with ds. I have personally met the founder of MSB+ (who worked with the founders of NuTriVene D prior to the MSB+) Kent MacLeod and was not impressed.

That all being said I have admittedly been out of the loop for years as far as the biology of ds and these so called "fixes" (again, for lack of a better word) so things could certainly have changed but that was/is my take.

We did the NuTriVene D & MSB+ & Piracteam & etc, etc, etc. from the very beginning and now my son at the age of almost 12 not only have the diagnosis of ds, but also has autism and adhd, has no communication skills and is incontinent.

Do I blame any of these products for his current condition...certainly NOT but I also do not think they helped him in any other way then his fairly good health.

I really believe that only we (as parents) can help our children succeed to their maximum potential.

(in Canada) & Ian: Jennah (12), Nicala (11), (11, ds/adhd/autism), Jonathon (11, neurofibromatosis), (10 in 3 days), & (3 in 3 days)

Subject: Re: Check-in DayTo: Multiples-DS Received: Friday, October 17, 2008, 9:03 PM

I don't know what nutrivene is but I'm looking forward to hearing people's answers on it. The past SEPTA president in my school district said there's a drug that parents use for children with DS before the age of 2 that improves cognitive skills. She says you have to go to Canada to get it and all the kids she knows that use it are cognitively intact (of course, mine are as well and they didn't take the drug so who's to say what would have happened w/o the drug intervention) . Anyway, I wonder if this the same thing????? My guys are 3 1/2 but I'm curious to understand and see the research on what it is and how/how well it works.

xo maggie

Check-in Day

Hi everybody, and go to preschool every week from September. At startthey cry but now they are just fine.I must know if you use Nutrivene for your children, because inRomania a lot of parents use it and i want to know your point of viewabout this .Elena Vlad 9, (DS) and 2.

[Guest guest]

I second that question!

Subject: Re: check-in dayTo: Multiples-DS Received: Sunday, October 19, 2008, 6:32 AM

Where do you get a bumper sticker like that? I would love one (or two) since both of my twins have DS (identical).

xo maggie

Olivia '01, & ('05 (IDs w/ DS)

check-in day

The twins start school in 23 days!!!! is not yet walkingindependently and we will be fitting him with a gait trainer nextweek. Lucky for us:), qualified for preschool with dueto his speech delay. At least they will be together, is veryprotective of his little big brother. They are looking less and lesslike twins and we get a lot of quizzical looks when we say, 'oh, theyare twins,' We are considering some really sarcastic T shirts but itis probably not appropriate. I do, however, proudly display my "MyKid Has More Chromosomes Than Yours!' bumper sticker, it is right nextto my honor student stickers!!!! ! Happy Fall.a mom to Meg14,Jack11, Lucy7,( DS) & almost 3

[Guest guest]

I believe that the "Trisomy 21 research foundation" was established by the board of NuTriVene-D.

Subject: Re: Check-in DayTo: Multiples-DS Received: Sunday, October 19, 2008, 6:26 AM

Dear Maggie, is the same thing! Nutrivene is recommended by the trisomy 21 research foundation and they consider that is not a drug ,they say Nutrivene is a dietary supplement. is more active and he is saying more new words since we administrate Nutrivene. He is 2 years old and he is walking without any help since he has 1 1/2 years. I know that Nutrivene is made in USA. I receive from Great Britain because I live in Romania. I m interesting to know parent s opinion about Nutrivene. Thank you for your answer. Elena

Check-in Day

Hi everybody, and go to preschool every week from September. At startthey cry but now they are just fine.I must know if you use Nutrivene for your children, because inRomania a lot of parents use it and i want to know your point of viewabout this .Elena Vlad 9, (DS) and 2.____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ __

[Guest guest]

- Thanks so much for the comprehensive history and experience. My personal feelings about all this -- without much more to go on than you and others have posted is... Like you, I think it's Early Intervention -- not pharmaceutical intervention -- that impacts the outcome. I don't think you can undo the extra chromosomal material our beautiful children have by taking a drug. The research I've seen shows that hormones (kid's reaction to) and environment have the greatest chance of impacting their future. My guys are doing well w/o meds... walking the fine line of "borderline" delayed in almost all areas. I'm so happy with their development and wouldn't want to take any meds, the side effects of which might jeopardize their progress, health or

happiness. I try to live my life w/o unnecessary meds and hope to foster the same for them. By the same token, if it's a vitamin, that's approved by the US FDA (feels safer to be a bit more stringent), that has shown to help (like B12 for memory) then I might be game to try it.

xo maggie

Check-in Day

Hi everybody, and go to preschool every week from September. At startthey cry but now they are just fine.I must know if you use Nutrivene for your children, because inRomania a lot of parents use it and i want to know your point of viewabout this .Elena Vlad 9, (DS) and 2.

[Guest guest]

Wow! Talk about pharmaceutical marketing at it's best! (And, I should know, I worked in advertising with pharma clients for years in NYC.)

xo maggie

Check-in Day

Hi everybody, and go to preschool every week from September. At startthey cry but now they are just fine.I must know if you use Nutrivene for your children, because inRomania a lot of parents use it and i want to know your point of viewabout this .Elena Vlad 9, (DS) and 2.____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ __

[Guest guest]

I actually got it off Ebay!!!! They also have ones that say 'I love someone with Down Syndrome', you can get one or a pack and when the first one I bought fell apart, the seller sent me a new one completely free!

a

mom to Meg14,Jack11,Lucy7,(DS) & almost 3!

Re: check-in day

Where do you get a bumper sticker like that? I would love one (or two) since both of my twins have DS (identical).

xo maggie

Olivia '01, & ('05 (IDs w/ DS)

check-in day

The twins start school in 23 days!!!! is not yet walking

independently and we will be fitting him with a gait trainer next

week. Lucky for us:), qualified for preschool with due

to his speech delay. At least they will be together, is very

protective of his little big brother. They are looking less and less

like twins and we get a lot of quizzical looks when we say, 'oh, they

are twins,' We are considering some really sarcastic T shirts but it

is probably not appropriate. I do, however, proudly display my "My

Kid Has More Chromosomes Than Yours!' bumper sticker, it is right next

to my honor student stickers!!!! ! Happy Fall.

a

mom to Meg14,Jack11, Lucy7,( DS) & almost 3

McCain or Obama? Stay updated on coverage of the Presidential race while you browse - Download Now!

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I got mine from Ebay, they also have 'I love someone with Down syndrome'. You can buy them separately of in packs of 5 I think and share with family. The first one I had fell apart and the seller sent me a replacement absolutely free. They are smaller than regular bumper stickers 4x3 ish.

a

Mom to Meg,14,Jack11,Lucy7,(DS) & almost 3

Re: check-in day

To: Multiples-DS

Received: Sunday, October 19, 2008, 6:32 AM

Where do you get a bumper sticker like that? I would love one (or two) since both of my twins have DS (identical).

xo maggie

Olivia '01, & ('05 (IDs w/ DS)

check-in day

The twins start school in 23 days!!!! is not yet walking

independently and we will be fitting him with a gait trainer next

week. Lucky for us:), qualified for preschool with due

to his speech delay. At least they will be together, is very

protective of his little big brother. They are looking less and less

like twins and we get a lot of quizzical looks when we say, 'oh, they

are twins,' We are considering some really sarcastic T shirts but it

is probably not appropriate. I do, however, proudly display my "My

Kid Has More Chromosomes Than Yours!' bumper sticker, it is right next

to my honor student stickers!!!! ! Happy Fall.

a

mom to Meg14,Jack11, Lucy7,( DS) & almost 3

McCain or Obama? Stay updated on coverage of the Presidential race while you browse - Download Now!

[Guest guest]

Sandy - I can't even imagine snow yet. Not ready. My guys are just 3 1/2 but they do love the snow already. How do you know you're the only ones in Maine with IDs w; DS? Is there a state agency that tracks that kind of thing? Just curious. Also, what is MOST? I googled it but none of the responses were relevant. Can you provide the website? I'd love to see the article. xo maggie

Mom to Olivia '01 and & '05 (IDs w/ DS)

To: Multiples-DS Sent: Thursday, December 4, 2008 5:06:30 PMSubject: Check-in Day

We had our first Snow! The boys all thought it was wonderful! Our christmas lights and decorations are now out and the tree is up. The boys are happy taking them down and putting them back on, or atleast putting them under the tree. Fortunately at 8 Christmas is starting to make more sense. and are doing well medically and seems to be holding his own with the HepB. We are still the only identicals with Down's in Maine, not sure about the rest of New England. For anyone who belongs to MOST, we have an article on us on their website. Title is something about the mother of 9. check it out if you get a chance. Happy Holidays to all no matter what your faith. Hoping to get cards out by the end of the weekend.

Sandy Weber

mom to Way too Many! Including Triplets! 8, (ds) 8, (ds) 8

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone,

Summer is about to end but I will try to keep up with the group once school

starts (I teach first grade). I have a 13 year old son, Austin and 10 year old

twins, Gabe (ADHD, NLD) and (DS). will is going into 4th grade

this year. He has a one-on-one aide to help him keep on task. He is doing

pretty well so far. On Thursday he goes for an all-day long appointment that

will tell us how he is doing cognitively (IQ test), hearing, and physically.

Academically he is doing pretty well. This summer, he couldn't write enough! I

am always amazed at how much he knows. Just the other day he told me he could

spell the name of our dog, Hawkeye. Sure enough, he did so from memory!!! I

underestimate him I guess!

I don't know if anyone else has this problem, but my twins don't show a close

bond between them. They fight constantly! Gabe is closer to his older brother

because they can relate more to one another. As an example, they like to build

intricate lego structures. , however, can't do that yet. The result?

screaming at them for not letting him play. It's frustrating to sit back

and listen to that all day long. will also yell at Gabe for the smallest

things too. He'll even blame Gabe for things he didn't even do! I hope that

someday I will see that twin bond I often hear about!!

Mom to Austin (13) and twins Gabe (ADHD, NLD) and (DS)

[Guest guest]

The twins are doing great. At their 2 year check up, ph (T21) weighed 25 lbs

and was 31 inches long and was 29 lbs and 37 inches long.

I am beginning to think of preschool settings. I need some feedback. Did you put

your two in the same class for preschool/Kindergarten or did you separate them

to give them both the best environments? I will have ph included in typical

classrooms and not separated for special education but just don't know if they

should be kept together or separated so they each accomplish their full

potential and are not in any way hindered by one another by helping eachother

and sticking together.

Thanks!

Christie, mom to and the twins ph (T21) and

[Guest guest]

Hi Christie,

This is an issue that many parents struggle with (any parent of multiples!). I

am a parent of twins, but also a teacher who sees both sides. When my own twins

were in preschool, there was only one small school (with only one section of

each grade!) to choose from in our itty bitty town. Thus, they were in the same

class. I happened to be the teacher of that class too, so I got to see all that

went on. My twin without DS (Gabe) socialized with all his peers. (DS)

preferred to be with Gabe only. That led to kindergarten. Again, we had to put

them into the same class. The entire year, Gabe would tell us about what

did or didn't go. He was constantly worried about , and didn't focus on

his own social/educational development.

The next year, we decided wasn't ready for first grade. Gabe was worried

about not being able to watch his twin brother every waking moment, but it was

the best thing to happen. Gabe was able to make his own friends and not have

the " burden " (that he put on himself) to keep an eye out on his brother. They

both did much better that year.

As a teacher, I see the same thing occur. Typically, if both twins are in the

same class they tend to seek one another out. They want to be with each other

at all times and this limits their ability to become independent. However, if

your twins are fairly independent of one another already this may not be an

issue. I just know that if you have twins that tend to only want to be with one

another, this will hinder their ability to become their own person.

That is my experience. I'm sure that having twins together might work for some

families, but in my opinion, it is best to separate them.

Mom to Austin (13) and 10 yr old twins, Gabe (ADHD, NLD) and (DS)

[Guest guest]

Hi, on the twin separation or togetherness.... my guys are operating on par with eachother. Both have DS. Occasionally, one develops slightly ahead of the other in one area or another but then the other catches up. And, then the other may take the lead. It's always been that way with them. They play together nicely most of the time. Not all the time. And, they attend the same preschool class... MY choice! When they're in class together, they seek out separate activities and classmates to play with... again, MOST of the time. Sometimes, they stay together. Lately, I see forging ahead in development with mimicking/following him. It seems like this has been going on for a few months which makes me worry for a bit. But then, I'm a mother, I've got to worry about something... right? I have to add that my guys were the subjects of an

award-winning speech-language research study at Adelphi University that showed they had 60% more utterances when working as a diad (together with a speech therapist) than when they saw the therapist separately. The study also found that they actually championed eachother and [lightly] competed for the therapists praise and so followed instructions and achieved more during diad sessions versus one-on-one sessions. These results fly in the face of today's common practice to treat and educate twins separately! As such, I choose to keep my guys together during preschool.

Common practice around here is to keep them together in preschool and split them in Kindergarten b/c of the developmental curve at the 3- and 4-year-old levels. The school suggested perhaps we could split them for 4-year-old pre-K in September -- as it turns out... for *administrative purposes* -- but a special education child development representative from Nassau County spoke up at our CPSE meeting and said he didn't think that was advisable as the process would have to be very gradual (1 hour at a time, 1 day at a time, until split, backtracking if there were any problems) given their special needs. He explained that the separation -- done incorrectly -- could have a devastating effect on them. The school backed off the decision at that time... but it's still a fight I have to fight if they suggest it again.

* My boys are in an integrated 16-1-2 class where 8 children have special needs and 8 are typically developing. The teacher and Special Ed Director said that if my 2 children needed assistance at the same time then the teacher would be left with 14 children to handle. That isn't fair to the other children with MY 2 kids receiving special attention. When asked if my boys need any more "special attention" than the other 6 children with special needs, they both agreed that they did not. In which case... ANY 2 children requiring special attention would leave the teacher in the same situation -- with 14 kids to attend to while the aides attend to the 2 needy children... So, the perceived problem was one of too-much-of-the-teachers'-attention-per-family versus their thinking that my children would benefit from being in separate classes. Turns out, THEY lumped them together by parent versus as

twins.

Still don't know what's going to happen in September! best, maggie

Mom to Olivia ('01) and & ('05 - IDs w/ DS)

www.walkonthehappyside.blogspot.com

To: Multiples-DS Sent: Tuesday, August 4, 2009 12:42:33 PMSubject: Re: check-in day

Hi Christie,This is an issue that many parents struggle with (any parent of multiples!). I am a parent of twins, but also a teacher who sees both sides. When my own twins were in preschool, there was only one small school (with only one section of each grade!) to choose from in our itty bitty town. Thus, they were in the same class. I happened to be the teacher of that class too, so I got to see all that went on. My twin without DS (Gabe) socialized with all his peers. (DS) preferred to be with Gabe only. That led to kindergarten. Again, we had to put them into the same class. The entire year, Gabe would tell us about what did or didn't go. He was constantly worried about , and didn't focus on his own social/educational development. The next year, we decided wasn't ready for first grade. Gabe was worried about not being able to watch his twin brother every waking moment, but it was the best thing to happen.

Gabe was able to make his own friends and not have the "burden" (that he put on himself) to keep an eye out on his brother. They both did much better that year. As a teacher, I see the same thing occur. Typically, if both twins are in the same class they tend to seek one another out. They want to be with each other at all times and this limits their ability to become independent. However, if your twins are fairly independent of one another already this may not be an issue. I just know that if you have twins that tend to only want to be with one another, this will hinder their ability to become their own person.That is my experience. I'm sure that having twins together might work for some families, but in my opinion, it is best to separate them. Mom to Austin (13) and 10 yr old twins, Gabe (ADHD, NLD) and (DS)