Friday, March 13, 2009

Moms of Irish Twins

I know that over the past few weeks and months I have had a number of people visit my blog who, like me, are "Moms of Irish Twins." Basically, this means that your babies are nine months apart or so. I know there are a few of you who had them closer (Jess) or farther (Amy, Lisa) apart than nine months. However, we are just trying to talk about the ballpark here -- somewhere around the nine month mark.

I recognize that the term "Irish Twins" might be a bit offensive as it has to do with the Catholic faith and their ability to have children in quick succession. However, my "little sis" Kelsey is the strongest Catholic I know, even considering becoming a nun, and she has told me that she is not offended by the term. So I've decided to use it.

If you are in the "club" of having Irish twins, would you mind shooting me an email with your email or putting your email in a comment in this blog? I would love to get a list together and put together a little "virtual support group" of some sort so that we could share stories or ideas. I'm really not sure, actually, what I am going to do with the list, but just felt like there have been so many people who have emailed me or left a comment, and I didn't do a good job compiling these individuals.

Even if you think I have your email or know you, would you still send me another email or comment? I don't want to leave anyone off the list.

Also, if you know someone else in this club, would you forward them a link to this blog and encourage them to shoot me an email or post a comment?

Thanks everyone!

P.S. Also, if you get a chance, please pray that a pharmacy somewhere in the area would decide to carry or stock the antibiotic I need to find this C.diff thing. We can't find anyone that has it! Ugh!

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Wendy,

As an Irish Catholic mom of four, though not of Irish Twins, who attended (and loved!) Catholic schools for 17 years and and now works in the Cahtolic school system, who cheers for the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame, "Irish Twins" I not a term I've ever heard considered offensive!

In fact, it's really an honor to be open to the sacredness of life, whenever one is blessed by it~especially within "about nine months" of eachother.

Continued Blessings Upon Your beautiful Family~
You're a gem!

Anonymous said...

I had the same problem looking for oral vanco. Had C. diff for three months (kept getting diagnosed with "the stomach bug going around" and given antidiarrheals which made it worse, then had two failed rounds of flagyl). Didn't have insurance then either, $760 for the vanco! But it finally worked and hope you feel better soon. I feel for you!

andnotbysight said...

I'm also an Irish (American) Catholic, and I'm an Irish twin myself. My family is very excited that we'll be having Irish twins, too. We don't perceive it as an offensive term, either! Oh, and the definition I've always heard is babies born less than one year apart.

So, count me as a prospective mom of Irish twins!

nondavista @ yahoo . com

Anonymous said...

Hey Wendi,

Thanks for the shout out in the blog! I love to be called upon because of my Catholicism! And to Mary O'Hannigan--what a great Irish Catholic name. I attended (and even played for) Notre Dame and love to cheer for my alma mater and the IRISH almost as much as cheering for the Pope and "Humanae Vitae."

Anonymous said...

Jason and Josh are 11 months apart. I always thought Irish Twins meant they were less than 1 yr apart.
Linda

Wendi Kitsteiner said...

I think you are right Linda. I wasn't sure what the "exact" definition was.

Jess said...

I read the other day about that term being offensive, and I didn't know it was either! While not Catholic myself we live in a VERY VERY Catholic and VERY VERY rural and conservative area, so a lot of people have Irish Twins and call them that.

Baby Bunching's website calls it Twiblings, but the term kind of makes me want to throw up. :)

Off to email you.

Blessed Blackman Bunch said...

Wendi- Wikipedia reads:
Irish twins
"Irish twins" and "Vatican twins" are slang terms for siblings who are not actually twins, but rather, were born less than 12 months apart—possibly in the same calendar year and/or school year. It refers to the perception that Irish Catholic families have many children, often with little time between births. It is sometimes considered derogatory. Similarly, "Irish triplets" refers to three siblings born within a three year time period.
I LOVE my Irish twins. 11 months apart. Wouldn't have it any other way. God is good. Will email you. GREAT idea! :)

Anonymous said...

Hi Wendi!
Proving that I should really spell check before I write anything, especially YOUR NAME =0) and "Catholic", I was thinking about my dear sweet,non-Catholic friend who, when we first met, was the mother of four children under five years old!! When anyone said jokingly to her, "You MUST be Catholic!" her response was,"No....just a Passionate Prostestant =0)" You can read all about her life and thoughts at her blog,"Take the Automatic Seven". Shannon is a hoot and I love her dearly!

And to Kelsey, thanks for the compliment! Hopefully you read this because my husband Joe is a Domer (MBA '96) and now works at your Beloved Alma Mater!! If ever you come Home to Notre Dame, you have a place to stay here...'cause any friend of Wendi's, the Pope and who loves Humanae Vitae is a friend of mine! Go Irish!