I’m a stay-at-home-mom (SAHM) of fraternal twin boys, married for 10 years, and I’m going to graduate school to get two Master’s in Education degrees (one in special education- learning disabilities endorsement; the other as a reading specialist). You could say that life is a little chaotic (well, okay, VERY chaotic).
I love bears, hence the “bear” in my name “BearTwinsMom”. I have a huge collection of wildlife bears and teddy bears. I also love to do crafts (scrapbooking, rubber stamping) whenever I get a spare moment (which is INCREDIBLY rare). I also like to read and write (it’s the English major in me).
I’m also very passionate about autism advocacy. One of my twin sons has Asperger’s Syndrome. I’m involved in an online discussion group for autism, and subscribe to many autism-related e-newsletters. I am a member of our local intermediate school district’s special education Parent Advisory Committee as a representative for my sons’ school district. I’m also on the education committee with the school board. Plus, I volunteer to help for a lot of things. (LOL) I may be a “stay-at-home-mom”, but I’ve been very active in the education community for all the time that I’ve been home.
I’m certified as a secondary education teacher- English, Spanish, and Bilingual Education. After I finish my Masters degrees, I’ll be certified K-12 special education, as well as K-12 reading. My hope is to use the reading and special ed. together in some way after I graduate.
I also dwell amongst the valleys and peaks of depression. I’ve had bouts of depression ever since I was a teenager, possibly even younger than that. This time around is really kicking my butt. I have an “impressive” home pharmacy to prove it. 
My hope for this blog is to keep myself sane, keep my friends and family updated, and hopefully educate some about what it’s like to be a mom of a special needs child.
On some of my friends’ blogs (see “Blogs I Like to Read”, “Friends Blogs” or “My Mental Health Buddies”) you might see “BTM”- that’s me- BearTwinsMom. Sometimes I might even use that abbreviation just to make things easier. 
I was blessed by a dear friend, Christina, who designed an awesome blog badge for me. If you are interested in participating in a link exchange with me, or hosting my badge on your blog/site, here’s the code for you. Please let me know where my bears are going so I can reciprocate the link-love!
<a href=”http://beartwinsmom.wordpress.com/” target=”_blank”><img src=”http://beartwinsmom.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/beartwinsmom125×1252.jpg” border=”0″ alt=”BearTwinsMom – Come in to my Den” /></a>
Last edited 10.8.08
Hello and please do!
Hi there? I’m coming from the blogrush widget. I’m a Papa(father) to 3yrs old son and identical twin boys. Coming all the way from Sabah, Land Below The Wind, East Malaysia.
I just wanna say hello to every parent out there with twins or more. I salute you all and respect all the same.
May all your dreams come true and may the kids healthy and cheerful always.
Welcome papajoneh! Glad you found my site thru BlogRush! Parents of ID twins amaze me… I don’ t know how you do it.
Hope to see you again soon!
~Michelle
Thank you for coming by, I also have boy/girl twins that just turned 12 – mom’s of twinkies must gravitate to each other without even knowing it *wink* I’m so glad you could relate to my post about anxiety- like you said, it’s SO so good to know I’m not alone. I just find myself pulling away from life a little more each day…. Here’s to you and I getting well
I think I’ll have a look around here, thanks again!
Hey, my mom is a mom of twins (I have a twin sister!). I also know a thing or two about depression – intrigued by your blog.
@ Dr. Paul- We’ll have to chat sometime. I’m always interested in talking with twins who have “grown up”. Plus, your knowledge of depression might be helpful to me, too. I’m so glad you came by to read and comment.
Hi.
This is the first chance I’ve made to come by and visit (i get so little internet time each day). The depression we have in common, as well as lifelong learning and teaching others (though I only do it informally).
I would like to relate something in regards to your autism advocacy. Although we cannot fight for everthing that needs to be in this world, I had the extreme fortune to work with autistic kids when I went to high school (I graduated in ‘85). Ours was grade 8-12 and we were the first high school in our province to have ’special needs’ students present full time (they had their own classes, in their own classroom, but everyone could help out whenever time permitted). Not only were they welcomed and accepted, eventually our graduating class voted unanimously to have our three friends (who were there for all five years with us) participate in our graduation ceremony as one of our graduating class.
Because of our schools complete acceptance, it opened the door to have special needs students placed in other provincial high schools on a permanent basis. I have yet to see many students of the current ‘entitlement’ era work half as hard as even one of the many autisitic students I had the inspiration to come in contact with.
I wish you all the best with your healing, and your work on behalf of your family and all the others you care so much for. I hope to visit your blog often.
I’m a twin who has mild Asperger’s, I just got it diagnosed this year at age 19. It’s a long story as to why it wasn’t found earlier, but it mainly involves a lack of knowledge in my city.
I think you have a really interesting blog and I’d like to invite you to come and visit my blog.
I hope you get better soon.
(My blog is at http://asdquefty.com in the event that the link on my name doesn’t work, as it didn’t for me.)
I noticed you are a top health blogger for Wellsphere. I am as well. http://www.wellsphere.com/jayson-h-profile/88490
I just wanted to offer articles or recipes if you wanted some content for your blog.
I work with a lot of females and also have a blog devoted just to women and weight loss. http://www.dress-size-reduction-blog.com Since the mental aspect plays a huge role in successful weight loss I think they will find your blog interesting and informative.
I am glad I found this resource and feel free to let me know if you would like any content based on weight loss.
Jayson Hunter RD
I Placed a blog on my site pointing people to this site! I tried to use the code you have for the beautiful badge, but it would not work (I tried a few times)
http://netwebmarketer.com/parenting/wordpress/2009/01/26/blogroll-with-parent-of-twin-and-dealing-with-autismaspergers-syndrome/
Look forward to connecting with you soon.
Christine Hiebel
You have a great website ! We are revamping ours, it is a work in progress and we are new at this, if you have suggestions , let us know. We are open to comments. Thanks
Hello beartwinsmom! We are following eachother on twitter ( I am @leahkievman) and through some of your posts I found your website and read some of your blogs. It is great to see that you are able to open your heart and write what you are feeling. It is hard for most people to do this and I am sure you give many the courage to do this as well so that they can find the support they need.
I have a friend who has a seven year old boy who is autistic. A little over a year ago her son couldn’t speak and didn’t interact in anyway. She and a friend of mine who owns the largest wholistic center east of the Mississippi educated me on a molecule called transfer factor. It is an immune memory cell found in all animals and birds and is non species specific. It can be transfered from one animal to another. Scientists have found a way to extract it from cows colustrum and chicken egg yolks (these animals have some of the strongest immune systems out there) and put it in a capsul and juice form for other animals to take. These transfer factor molecules transfer the immune intellegence from them to us. It can raise the immune system and natural killer cell count by up to 437% and it can also tell our immune systems to back off when over reacting like in the case of allergies.
My friend had tried everything that her specialists had recommended her, including detoxes and special diets, but nothing seemed to help. After hearing about transfer factors, she started giving them to her son and within a couple of months her son began to speek. I have spent a lot of time with her son over the last few months and he is now a child who laughs and plays, helps other kids at school, communicates better and better every day, and is now potty trained. He still has a ways to go, but he it is hard for me to picture him as the child who didn’t speek or interact and he impoves every day.
I do not know the difference between aspergers and the type of autism my friends son has, but from what I have learned is that autism is an auto immune disorder. This product is definately worth looking into for your little boy. Between this beautiful story and the testimonies I have heard and keep hearing, I have fallen in love with transfer factor and what it can do and has done for thousands of people. If you want to know more about it or just talk you can e-mail me at leahkievman@gmail.com or call at (***)***-****. I can also get you in contact with my friend who introduced us to transfer factor and owns the National Wholistic Center. She could also be a wonderful resource.
My heart goes out to you and I am sending prayers your way. I can tell you love your children very much. Know that you are not alone and that your prayers are heard. Love yourself and know that you are loved by many.
With love and blessings,
Leah Kievman “)
http://www.4life.com
Oh, we sound so similar.
I think dealing with autism would depress anyone…learning how to parent in a different way is difficult. I don’t know about you, but it seems like I’m always fighting others with our choices and my son’s diagnosis. Frustrating.