Double Time: How I Survived---and Mostly Thrived---Through the First Three Years of Mothering Twins

I've been a reader of Jane Roper's blog, Baby Squared, for some time. I visit her blog for amusing anecdotes about her children and thoughtful pieces on modern parenting, that don't pander to the "mommy wars" mentality.What I got from reading Double Time was this and more. My twins are a two or three months younger than Jane's, and throughout this book I found myself nodding, laughing, and crying in agreement. She gets so many of the details about twin parenting spot on. Jane's voice is warm and engaging, honest, and never judgmental. She is able to convey what it's really like to be a mother of twins: the joys, frustrations, and the compromises you make as you parent "in double time." Jane also writes frankly about her need to work as well as be a mother (in her case, being a writer), and that piece also resonates strongly with me.Where Jane's experience differs from mine is that, in addition to being a writer and a mother, Jane deals with clinical depression. And while the severity of her symptoms is certainly greater than any experience I have had, I feel that any mother of twins (and probably any parent at all) will recognize some of those peaks and troughs that Jane describes.I think Jane's book is a unique and welcome addition to the genre of books about parenting twins, because of her ability to describe the experience so well. I think it's a book that will also resonate with any new parent, whether or not expecting twins. And I will certainly be giving it to any of my friends who join the twin club.

This book is a memoir. While it does contain some relevant information for twin mom's, it is by no means a how-to guide for twin parents.

Highly recommended for any parent of multiples, both mother and father. The writer brings up so many issues, incidents and challenges of finding out and becoming a parent of twins. She covers not only the logistical challenges of juggling multiples but also discusses the thoughts that runs theough all our heads. Her writing is honest, uncensored, humorous and moving. If you has looking for a book that talks about all the wonderful things of being a parent of multiples and how your twins are two little angels.. this book is not for you. If you want one that is realistic.. get it! We are part of a multiples support group and everyone ended up picking up and reading this book. It reminds us we are not alone and we all share the same funny and tragic challenges as well as the same thoughts, no matter how absurd and crazy they are. :-)

I've been a follower of Jane Roper's blog on Babble since my twins were born. Since her girls are about two years older, I think of her as a pioneer and trailblazer filling me on on what is coming my way. I loved Double Time because her twin experience was so similar to ours in so many ways. We found wubbanubs to be our life savers, we kept crazy charts about everything going in and out of our girls and we had many of the same highs and lows as Jane and Alastair. I am planning to give this book to anyone I know who is going to have twins because it tells it how it really is and answers so many of the questions that I had when my twins were on the way (how do you go somewhere by yourself with two babies, how do you feed them both at once, etc.). Reading about her journey helped me remember how great this experience has been and get excited (and slightly terrified) about what is coming next!

Takes to get on the right medication than about raising twins. I enjoyed it anywaybut I think it would sell better if it was re-titled something like:Managing Bipolar disorder and twins , and a writing career Sucessfully!

A poignant look at the first few years of raising twins, Jane Roper celebrates (and laments) this wild and wacky time. As a mother of one year-old girls, I found myself nodding in agreement and solidarity page after page, almost shouting out - PREACH ON, Jane! Double Time acknowledges the inherent challenges that come with twins without complaining. Rather, I felt in solidarity with her descriptions of utter exhaustion, maddening baby battles - and moments of sheer twin joy. Parents of twins will laugh at her "twin and twang" theory - every time you think you've got your kids nailed, they flip flop (so true!). The book is also filled with honest accounts of the author's ongoing fight with depression. While these descriptions take up a heavy portion of the book, I'm sure they will be helpful to those who may suffer from similar situations. Overall, Double Time is a great addition to a surprisingly small number of good multiples parenting books.

I truly enjoyed reading Double Time. I have been reading Jane's blog for years and have also read her novel, Eden Lake (Excellent, by the way), and had been looking forward to the book coming out for a while. I found myself laughing out loud at parts and tearing up at others, so many of her stories are relatable. In addition, as a parent who has dealt with depression, so much resonated with me and it was a comfort to read that someone had also gone through so much of what I have, regardless of raising twins or just 1 like I have. I would highly recommend this to any parent...whether or not you've dealt with depression and whether or not you have 1, 2 or 6 kids; twins or triplets... I think any parent would find this read educational, heartwarming and thoroughly enjoyable.

Eh. I don't really understand the rave reviews on this book. Perhaps because I am not familiar with her blog and enamored by other things the other has published, I don't see the genius of this book. I'm a first time mommy with twins and I didn't walk away with one new idea or perspective. It was disappointing actually, as it does REALLY revolve around the author's depression. I'm sure most (if not all) parents have ups and downs and wonder HOW in the world they will survive the day. I guess I just had different expectations for this book. I didn't feel that there was anything about the book that teaches the reader how to THRIVE...just how SHE survived. Disappointed reader.

What a fabulous and very honest book.

Although, ostensibly, mainly about her mothering, this book is more about the author's issues with depression and the parenting/work balance than it is about the mothering part of her life. The 'twins' part of things, as the book wore on, seemed increasingly beside the point. I guess what I am saying is that the title is sort of false advertising. As I am in my sixties and a grandmother, it was not a particular problem for me-I found the book interesting in that it was a sort of window into my thirty something children's generation's way of thinking. (I read widely and eclectically.) But were I a new parent of twins, looking for insight into rearing twins from birth through age three, I would have felt kind of ripped off. Also, the author seems pretty pleased with herself, while claiming otherwise, over and over, in a increasingly disingenuous fashion all through this rather self congratulatory book. I think that the thing may be that this is really two books cobbled into one and the end result is bumpy. Write a book about the twin mothering part, AND a book about depression and bipolar and how to come to terms with these things but do not call it one book. I feel mean saying this, but really, I have read much better examples of this kind of book, such as Half Baked by Alexa Stevenson. The Kindle price was pretty steep as well.