Sometimes, the meaning behind colors goes beyond sports teams or school rivalries. I learned this lesson during a layover at Boston’s Logan International Airport with my son, Evan.
While I was excitedly choosing Red Sox-themed margarita glasses, my five-year-old son, Evan, approached me with a dramatic flair. “Mom! I’m done with the Red Sox!”
I was taken aback, as if he had just declared a dislike for pizza or ice cream. “What do you mean?” I asked, bewildered.
“I need a Yankees hat!” he declared, hands on his hips, as if this was the most logical request in the world.
Although we reside in Colorado, our family in New England has generously sent Red Sox memorabilia for my twin boys—baseball caps, mitts, and matching T-shirts in red, blue, and grey. I hadn’t realized that Evan’s twin, Oliver, often claimed these items as his own.
At birth, the twins looked so similar that I shed tears when the hospital staff removed their ankle bracelets. How could I possibly tell them apart? I resorted to color-coding their outfits, dressing Oliver in red or orange, while Evan sported blue or green. With their identical strawberry blond hair and bright blue eyes, the color scheme made it easier for family and friends to distinguish them. Even as they grew older, they stuck to their chosen colors.
At preschool, the identifiers “blue/green” or “red/orange” didn’t suffice. Their friends simply called them “EvanOliver” or got their names mixed up. The boys never seemed to mind, and we adults thought it was endearing.
As they grew, a favorite aunt introduced them to checkers using a special set featuring mini Red Sox and Yankees helmets. I didn’t think much of it when Evan often played as the blue and white team.
And then, he stood there before me again. “Mom!” he shouted, drawing the attention of every nearby shopper. “You need to get me a Yankees hat!”
I felt the eyes of the airport employees and patrons turn toward us, as if we had just toppled a display of souvenirs. I considered my options: maybe I could quickly cover his mouth and whisk him away before a confrontation ensued.
Instead, I crouched down, trying to maintain my composure. “Sweetie, remember, we cheer for the Sox?”
“No, Mommy,” he insisted. “I love the Yankees!”
A chuckle came from a bystander nearby.
I was about to correct him when Oliver, sporting his Sox cap, ran over to see what all the fuss was about. The atmosphere shifted in an instant.
“Wait—are they twins?” the shop clerk asked, eyes wide. “How do you tell them apart?”
“One’s a Sox fan while the other roots for the Yankees,” the bystander quipped. “That’s just wrong.”
I glanced at Oliver in his red and white attire, then back to Evan, decked out in blue and white. Suddenly, it clicked.
This wasn’t about baseball teams or city loyalties; it was about a little boy carving out his individual identity. I had been so focused on making it easy for myself, family, and teachers to differentiate the boys that I hadn’t considered how it must feel for them to be constantly lumped together as “EvanOliver” or misnamed half the time. Evan didn’t want to wear Red Sox gear because he needed to establish his own distinct identity.
Swallowing my disappointment about the Yankees, I promised Evan we would find him the hat he wanted on our next shopping trip. I also made a point to encourage individual playdates and developed new ways for others to identify them—like noting that Oliver is slightly taller, and Evan’s eyes are a tad closer together.
In the end, I even supported Evan’s choice to root for the Jets over the Patriots (he saved up to buy a green Jets sweatshirt that has become his favorite). No one has had the heart to tell him that in New York, Yankees fans typically root for the Giants. But even if we did, I could imagine his response. “There’s a bit of red in those Giants uniforms, and that’s Oliver’s color.”
This experience reminded me of the importance of allowing our children to explore their individuality, even in the simplest ways. For more insights on parenting and family building, check out resources like Resolve’s guide on intrauterine insemination. If you’re interested in exploring options for home insemination, visit this article for helpful tips. And for those considering at-home solutions, Make a Mom is a trusted source for your journey.
Summary
This article reflects on how a moment with my son at the airport opened my eyes to the individuality of twins. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing and supporting their identities, even in small ways, and encourages parents to consider how to help their children stand out.