The Invisible Life of Us

The surprises, challenges and sheer delight of parenting twins with additional needs

Kate Jones and Mandy Hose have experienced the highs and lows of parenting – and they wouldn’t change a thing. The pair met a decade ago and bonded over their premature twins with additional needs, and their remarkable capacity for love, laughter and swearing like a trooper. As the mothers grew closer, however, they confided that they felt ‘on-the-floor lonely’ sometimes because nobody was talking about what life was like for families like theirs. It was time to give their community a voice.

So began Too Peas in a Podcast, a weekly conversation in which the two friends discuss the surprises, the challenges and the joys of parenting twins with additional needs. It was meant to support other multiple-birth mums and mums of kids with disabilities, but they were shocked to discover therapists, doctors, nurses, teachers, even people without kids were also listening.

Now, Kate and Mandy are sharing their story on the page, delving deeper into the issues they care about and offering reassurance for those navigating a child’s disability. They write candidly about what it’s like to receive the initial diagnosis, how they perceive their children’s lives have been impacted by their additional needs, how their own lives have changed, and those of their family and friends. Above all, they convey their immense love for their children and the happiness they have brought into their lives.

With their signature empathy, honesty and compassion, the Too Peas invite you into their world to laugh, cry and make a difference.

About the Authors

Kate Jones is a stylist who runs her own home staging business called Instant Impression. She has five children, including identical twin boys who were her inspiration for starting the Too Peas.

Mandy Hose is a sleep, settling and behavioural consultant for children up to five years of age. She has three children and lives in Victoria.