The "Virtual" Reality...

Virtual Twinning.

It's a term I had never heard before. But as soon as I posted about the potential of adopting an "older" child close in age to one of our little guys, the virtual twinning opinions came oozing out of the woodwork.

Virtual Twins are children very close in age who, although not biologically related, are welcomed into the same family. In many cases, families adopt children at the same time (or even at separate times) who are the same age. Some are 6-8 mos apart but some are even just a few weeks apart. Others (like us) have a biological child or children and then adopt a child the same age as one already at home.

The controversy surrounding virtual twins is enough to make your head spin. I've been warned about competition between kids, jealousy, one feeling the other gets more attention, etc. Uh, isn't that what being a sibling is? We have two boys 16-mos apart and definitely see that with them but they also play and love each other more than anything.

It's given us a lot to think about anyway. But I can't say that if we got a call saying there's a little girl out there who needs us as much as we need her, that we'd be able to turn our backs.

Anyone out there adopt a toddler close in age to a toddler at home? I'd love to hear from you.