WHEN Point Cook mother Jen Cavill found out she was having twins, it was April Fool’s Day.

However, she and her husband were delighted to discover their doctor was not joking.

The couple are now the proud parents of 10-and-a-half-month-old Emma and Lauren, as well as three-and-a-half-year-old Callum.

While she was still pregnant, Ms Cavill joined the Wyndham Twins Plus group.

“The best part was dealing with other mothers who have been through what you have and understand,” she said.

“I didn’t realise how many of us there were out there.”

Ms Cavill said thanks to the group, which is affiliated with the Australian Multiple Birth Association, she discovered having two babies at once would not be as challenging as she feared.

“Having twins never crossed my mind. It was something I’d never thought about happening to me,” she said.

“The most surprising thing is that it’s hard work, but not as bad as you think.”

“It is double the trouble, but then you get double the love, double the smiles and double the kisses.”

As part of Wyndham Twins Plus, Ms Cavill and her friends take part in monthly meetings, regular activities for all their children, a weekly playgroup, ‘meet and greet’ lunches for new parents and a Christmas party.

The group also has a ‘clothes hand-me-downs’ network, offers support contacts for children with special needs or who are born premature, an equipment hire service and discounts at local businesses.

Ms Cavill said Emma and Lauren were good babies, but have developed a habit of pulling all the toilet paper off the roll in the bathroom.

“You look forward to different milestones. Most parents can’t wait for their children to start walking. I hope they take five years,” she said.

The Wyndham Twins Plus next information night will be on 16 September.

Their upcoming fund-raiser Baby and Kids Monster garage and car boot sale will take place at the Mossfiel Primary School Gymnasium in Hoppers Crossing on 25 September from 8am to 1pm. Stall-holders are needed.

See www.wtp.amba.org.au for more information.