BY GAIL CHASTANG
The Cincinnati Enquirer
ERLANGER - Sharon and Ron Harrison were fine-tuning their parenting skills with fraternal twins Maddie and Allie when they hit the daily double. A second set of fraternals, Caroline and Samantha, were born Sept. 15, just six weeks before their big sisters' fourth birthday Oct. 31. The Harrisons didn't panic. As members of the Northern Kentucky Mothers of Twins Club, they knew they weren't alone.
The club is one of five in the Greater Cincinnati area, and was formed more than 30 years ago for mothers of multiple-birth children.
"I don't know what we would've done without the club," Mrs. Harrison said. "They pitched in and helped us when we needed it the most. I just hope to return the favor in some way."
The club offers guest speakers, a monthly newsletter, a lending library of helpful books and magazine articles, clothing and equipment sales, family holiday parties, mom's nights out, and more. Most important, it gives mothers a feeling of camaraderie as they experience the joys and challenges of raising multiples.
Lynn Ramstetter of Florence, club president, said membership increases monthly. The club's roster now contains More than 90 members paying the $15 annual dues.
First-time mother Cathy Benson of Taylor Mill, expecting twins Jan. 17, said she heard about the club from a friend. Lori Reed of Fort Mitchell, mother of three - a 2-year-old son and 9-week-old twin girls - found the club in the phone book.
Mrs. Harrison learned of the club from her older sister, also a mother of twin girls, and joined with the birth of Maddie and Allie. She became an active member immediately, even taking on the job of president from 1995 to '97.
So it was no surprise to anyone when she was swaddled in support after breaking the news of her second multiple pregnancy. Mrs. Harrison is the only current member to have more than one set of twins. Through the Double Duty committee, members help out fellow mothers and their families - such as the Harrisons - during a difficult time. Mrs. Harrison said they not only received help with child care, grocery shopping, and cleaning, but for a time received dinner three times a week. Good thing too, Mrs. Harrison says, since most days she was too exhausted to even think about cooking.
"There were many days when I'd be sitting down with a baby over each shoulder and one or both of the older girls crying for attention," she said.
Following suit behind the Harrisons are Mary Jo and Patrick Birrer of Crescent Springs, who are awaiting their second twin birth Feb. 23. The Birrers are parents of 3-year-old fraternals, Holly and Rachel.
"My folks are in Florida, and his in St. Louis," Mrs. Birrer said. She joined the club when Holly and Rachel were 6 months old. "Belonging to this club has brought the comfort of knowing that there are others out there going through the same issues and stresses that I am."
Another thing Mrs. Birrer likes about the club are the clothing and equipment sales. "We can buy practically new stuff for a fraction of the cost," she said.
Twins club
How to get in touch with a twins club:
Call the Mothers of Twins Clubs of Cincinnati's voice mail at 852-0811 to hear a recording listing all area clubs, contact names, phone numbers, meeting dates and locations.
Meetings of the Northern Kentucky club are open to any mother of twins or more. They are held at 7 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month (except July) at St. Joseph Church, Buttermilk Pike, Crescent Springs.
Parents can also visit the following web sites:
http://www.nomotc.org (National Organization of Mothers of Twins Clubs, Inc.); http://www.twinsmagazine.com/ (Twins: The Magazine for Parents of Multiples); and http://www.geocities.com/noftc/ (National Online Fathers of Twins Club)
