My twin boys turned three last month, which is just mind-boggling to consider. It still feels like yesterday that they were born, in May of 2020, which was certainly an interesting time to become a first-time father of two to say the least.Yet, it also feels like much longer than three years when I stop to consider all the diaper changes, uneaten meals, and protested bedtimes. If there’s one thing I was told before the boys were born that rings true, it is, most certainly, that the days feel long but the years feel short. It’s interminable, and yet it’s also gone by like a breeze.And at three years old, they really are a lot of fun! I can have actual conversations with them. They’re getting into board games (which is wonderful, but I never need to play Candyland again). They recently had their first soccer practices. I can take them to the occasional movie.Sure, potty training is kind of a nightmare, but my heart truly melts when I see them making up games to play with one another. The fact that having twins now means that my kids each have a built-in best friend as opposed to what it used to mean (mainly, extra diapers and double the sleepless nights) makes it all the more special. The good far outweighs the not-so-good now.Crucially, weekend trips are becoming much more manageable, as well. When we went to Disney World in April of 2022, it was a bit of a disaster. It was bad for several reasons, including Spring Break crowds and the fact that the trip was cut short by most of the family getting COVID. But the boys also just weren’t fully ready for a big trip, so it took a lot of effort on our part for very little reward.However, in the past few weeks, we’ve been able to travel a few hours away with relative ease. It’s a lot of work bringing two little kids anywhere, don’t get me wrong. But now it’s not so difficult that my wife and I aren’t able to enjoy it (or, in my case, not dread it).A few weeks ago, we took them to Hersheypark, and this past weekend, we went to the National Aquarium and the Children’s Museum in Baltimore. Did I want to jump into the shark tank when they asked to go home as soon as we entered ...
