Identical twins are celebrated in society for their similarities, as evidenced by the number of television commercials using twins to sell their products and the success of twin-based shows and movies. But there is another side to twins that should be embraced: their individuality.

Parents expecting twins have a difficult, but wonderful, task ahead of them. They are responsible for recognizing and encouraging each child's individuality while also nurturing the special bond they share.

Susan Kohl, mother of twins and author of Twin Stories: Their Mysterious and Unique Bond (Wildcat Canyon Press, 2001), stresses the importance of helping twins develop their own identities. "Even though the egg splits and they have much of the same genetic makeup, they really are two separate people," she says. "It's important to nurture their individuality so they could become self-sufficient, successful adults."

Kim Brown, a mother of twins from Indiana, agrees. "The children need to know that they are not two halves of a whole, but that each one is a complete individual," she says.

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