Double the blessings for local mothers

The Froneman family, bursting with twins, happily shared their experiences with the City Times in celebration of Mother’s Day (May 9).

The family from Farrarmere seems to have a lineage of females ruling the house.

Carol Froneman gave birth 30 years ago to twins Ashton and Stacey. Stacey gave birth 10 years ago to twin girls Tatum and Kayla Froneman, and Ashton gave birth to a baby girl, Kaitlyn Geere, three years ago.

Carol who was 28 years old when she had her twins, said the journey was not always easy but worth it.

The mom of three (oldest daughter Sheryce, who was born 14 months before the twins) said she instilled a routine at a young age.

“It did not matter if I had a house full of people if it was bath time or time to be fed – I would excuse myself and do what needed to be done,” she explained.

“They always had a set bedtime. By 8pm they were in bed. I will also say thank you to my mom who helped me with them and also to my Grace who was my domestic at the time.

“It was hard work and people seem to think because they are twins that they eat together and sleep together. With my own set of twins that was definitely not the case.”

Carol said having twins came as a shock to her, despite having twins being a norm in her family.

“I was already seven months pregnant when we found out that I was carrying twins. My 12-week scan only picked up one baby,” she explained.

“Give your children lots of love, set boundaries and set a routine. Also, give them the security that will help to feel safe.

“Teach them respect for themselves and to respect others – make your home a home and not a monument and raise them to know the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Stacey, who was 20 at the time of having her twins, also shared her journey:

“Tatum is a lot like my sister Ashton. She likes to tease. Ashton used to tease me and my older sister Sheryce all the time. My twins are generally very well behaved,” she said.

The twins, who attend Farrarmere Primary School, were born at St Mary’s in Springs, following in Ashton and Stacey’s footsteps.

When asked what Stacey repeats to her twins that her mother said to her and Ashton, she said: “I am not going to talk 10 times, and, are these ears or ornaments?”

While the mom of two said having twins is a double cost, at the same time, it also brings its fair share of double the love, joy, happiness, blessing and fun.

“They have very similar personalities but also very different. They are both very lovable, kind little girls who are always friendly and caring. Both are very gentle with very big hearts.

“Kayla is the more sensitive but very competitive twin, Tatum is more a girly girl and full of jokes,” Stacey said.

Ashton worried about catching the twin fever when she found out she was pregnant.

“I was worried, it [felt like] the longest weeks as I found out at four weeks that I was expecting and could only see the gynaecologist at nine weeks,” she said.

“It is an amazing and rewarding life once you become a parent. Kaitlyn is my life, she is what I live for and in the same breath what I would die for as well.

“It’s a love like no other and you only truly understand the meaning of unconditional love once you become a parent. There is no love like the love you have for your children.

“She is the cutest little three-year-old girl in the world. I guess every mother would say that, but she is such a delight and my biggest blessing. I thank God for her all the time, as I could never imagine life without her.

“She is such a happy bubbly, kind little girl, always full of laughs and smiles. Katie loves to make jokes and has such a cute little sense of humour.

“In a nutshell she is just awesome and the most incredible blessing in my and her dad’s (Ryan Geere) life.”

The three moms shared 10 tips of advice to mother’s who have twins, triplets, are expecting and have newborn babies:

• Routine is key.
• Take lots of pictures and videos – they grow up fast.
• Don’t worry about being perfect. We are all human and you only need to be the best version of yourself for your little ones.
• No baby is the same. They are all their own person so don’t sweat the small things as something may work for one mom but not for you. You will soon figure out what works for you and your little one.
• Always remember that a happy mom means a happy baby.
• Moms having twins need to start saving now.
• Remember they are two different people.
• Accept help.
• It gets easier as they get older – keep up the great job that you are doing.
• There is no right or wrong way to do things, do what makes you and your baby happy.

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