Twin frustration: Who was born first?

In our series «We ask ourselves ...», we at Fritz+Fränzi ask each other questions from the big family universe. Florina Schwander, Head of Online Editing, answers Andrea Widmer 's question from the Fundraising department.

«Dear Florina, which of your twin boys is actually older?»

Andrea Widmer

Dear Andrea, you know me - I'm generally a fairly uncomplicated, open person. But when it comes to older twins, I'm a bit of a stickler.

My boys only recently turned four and the question of which of them was older came up several times at the birthday party. Fortunately, Mr a* and Mr b* didn't notice the question and their tiny age difference is not yet an issue for either of them.

But I'm already watching the film that I know from other pairs of twins. And so I can see in my mind's eye the fights over the last baby at home, «because I'm the older one!». I can feel the indignant looks as to why one of them is always allowed to sit on the lap first when the other was actually born first, and so on and so forth.

In together, out together

Our twins are identical and were a planned caesarean section; their age difference is exactly two minutes. That is, until one doctor took one baby out and the other looked at the clock. I find these two minutes absolutely arbitrary, considering that they were together in my womb for nine months. And as much as I am willing to promote their own identity, the two-minute difference is not part of it for me.
So I always answer the age question by saying that the boys were a planned caesarean section and that they were delivered at the same time. So far, this has given my conversation partner enough food for thought so that I have been able to respectfully change the subject or immediately come up with a new question about caesareans or birth itself.

Genes, time of birth, all shared!

I realise, of course, that I won't be able to keep the secret of the exact birth process to myself forever. At the latest when Mr a or Mr b are interested in their ascendant, I will have to come out with the truth for better or worse. Until then, the boys not only share the genes, but also the time of birth.
Incidentally, the best answer recently came from the boys themselves. In the pharmacy, a nice saleswoman asked which of the two was the older one. They simultaneously pointed to the older sister and said: «her!». Everyone laughed and the issue was settled.

* Monsieur a and Monsieur b should announce their first names on the Internet themselves as soon as they want to get a TikTok or whatever-it-is-then-cool account. Fortunately, there's no need for a birth time, so maybe I can still keep my secret for a bit ... #wishfulthinking

Florina Schwander leitet die Onlineredaktion. Die eigenen vier Jahre Alterschunterschied zur jüngeren Schwester hat sie jahrelang erfolglos als Argument in Streitereien eingesetzt. 
Florina Schwander is head of the online editorial team. For years, she has unsuccessfully used her own four-year age difference to her younger sister as an argument in disputes.

The next question goes to Patrik Luther, Deputy Publishing Director:

«Dear Patrik, you and your wife live the traditional family model with your two daughters: you work 100 per cent, she looks after the children and the household. How does that work?»

Florina Schwander

The answer has now appeared: What is life like in the traditional family model?

Previously published in the section «We ask ourselves»:

  • Editor-in-chief Nik Niethammer answers the question: Dear Nik, do your children still believe in Father Christmas and the Christ Child?
  • Editor Florina Schwander answers the question: Dear Florina, do your twins get the same presents for Christmas?
  • Lead author Claudia Landolt answers the question: How does it feel to be a woman with five men and a dog?
  • Deputy Editor-in-Chief Evelin Hartmann answers the question: How do you manage the bilingualism of High German and Swiss German?
  • Patrik Luther, Deputy Publishing Director, answers the question: What is it like when the children have a big age difference?
  • Florian Blumer, Head of Production, answers the question: How do you manage to distribute work, family and household equally?
  • Bianca Fritz, Head of Online, answers the question: What is it actually like to work for a parenting magazine when you are (still) childless?
  • Sales Manager Jacqueline Zygmont answers the question: How do you let go when your son (20) is slowly fledging?
  • Sales Manager Corina Sarasin answers the question: What is the relationship like with your godchildren?
  • Publishing assistant Dominique Binder answers the question: What is it like to grow up as an only child?
  • Managing Director of Stiftung Elternsein, Thomas Schlickenrieder, answers the question: Family in different time zones: What is it like when your son is studying abroad?
  • Author Claudia Landolt answers the question: What to cook for four greedy boys?
  • Sales Manager Renata Canclini gives tips on how to make life work as a patchwork family.
  • Foundation secretary Éva Berger explains how she went from being a full-time mum back to working full-time.
  • Benjamin Muschg, Head of Production, gives tips on what you should bear in mind as an unmarried couple with a child.
  • Evelin Hartmann, deputy editor-in-chief, writes about holidays; the same place every year - boring or familiar?
  • Andrea Widmer from Fundraising writes about her children's relationship with their grandparents, who live far away.