They took my perfect‘ art-directed’ life and taught me that mess and chaos can also bring joy.
feel-good family and friends could not always be there to help. But he was quick to find out that once you join‘ The Parent Club’, everyone wants to give advice and help out.“ And as exhausting as it was, the twins were relatively easy – it’ s like they knew I was on my own and helped me in their own way,” reflects Mike.”
His twins instantly took him out of his comfort zone, and he hasn’ t returned since. In many ways, he grew up alongside them.“ They’ ve taught me to focus on what is important, to forget about what other people think, and to enjoy every moment of the journey.” admiration; and he quips that many women love his situation. However, for now, his focus is on his family.
“ From day one I’ ve always told the twins that families look different, that some have a mom and dad, some have one parent, some have two moms, some have two dads – and they’ ve happily accepted that,” he says. He knows they may be teased, but he hopes that they will be secure enough in themselves to deal with it.
Destiny’ s child( ren)
The fact that his children are twins feels destined, he says,“ because they will always have each other to lean on, and to understand what it is like to be in this unique situation. They’ re so protective of each other and are each other’ s best friends.”
For now,“ It just gets better and better”, says Mike.“ All I want to do is spend time with them. Even when they’ re misbehaving, it’ s all part of it, and my love for them gets impossibly stronger. They took my perfect‘ art-directed’ life and taught me that mess and chaos can also bring joy. I’ m a Gemini, the sign of the twins, and it’ s like they were always out there, waiting for me. It really was written in the stars.” �
They took my perfect‘ art-directed’ life and taught me that mess and chaos can also bring joy.
It takes a village
Girl Riley and boy Jordy quickly grew to adore their aunts, grandparents, and Mike’ s wider circle of family and friends. Now aged five, they are thriving in every way – a whirlwind of energy, enthusiasm and magic that Mike captures on his Instagram account, @ mysingledoublelife. With his designer’ s eye and way with words, he shares images of childhood that are beautifully captured, enhanced by his humorous, razor-sharp observations about parenting, childhood and family.
He reflects on the fact that a single man raising twins should not be a shock in our modern world, and yet it is. He even struggles with this from time to time. Other people generally respond with warmth, curiosity, support and
Follow Mike Ipp at @ mysingledoublelife on Instagram www. babysandbeyond. co. za
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