Before Codie Elaine Oliver ever had her twins, she had names picked out for the ones she didn't have yet — Mariah and Shania. Before I had mine, I used to joke that if I ever got pregnant again, I'd "pull a Beyoncé" and have twins. Neither of us believed it would actually happen. Then a doctor told me I likely couldn't have more kids at all. And then it was twins — for both of us.
This week I'm sharing my interview on the Mama's Den Podcast — a conversation recorded in person with Codie on the Disney Destiny, the first time we'd ever actually been in the same room after she'd already been a guest on my own show. By the time we sat down on the deck of that amazing cruise ship, we were deep into confessions: manifestation, motherhood, and the stuff twin moms don't usually say out loud.
We get into it: my doctor's exact words before the twins that changed everything, the "joke" that came true — for both of us — what it's really like going from one kid to three, and the stage of twin parenting nobody warns you about.
Normal episodes return in a couple of weeks. In the meantime, go check out the Mama's Den Podcast wherever you listen.
In this episode:
How Lauren became "That Twin Mama" — including being told by a doctor she likely couldn't have more kids, then finding out she was pregnant with twins
Manifesting twins — both hosts had jokingly "called" twins before it happened (Lauren's "pull a Beyoncé" bit; Codie's imaginary twin girls Mariah and Shania)
Going from one kid to three — navigating the 10-year age gap between Lauren's son Jackson and her twin girls
Being diagnosed/told you can't conceive — then defying the odds
The stages of twin parenting — what gets easier and when (holding their own bottles, independent eating, walking stairs, playing independently)
Protecting the older sibling's identity — not making Jackson a built-in babysitter; keeping him from being overshadowed
Postpartum mental health awareness — how the conversation has evolved since Lauren had Jackson in 2010
Going from career to content creator — Lauren's 10-year run at Teach For America and how the pandemic sparked her pivot
Raising grounded kids despite elevated experiences — gratitude, values, and the Disney Destiny cruise
The mother-daughter healing dynamic — how Lauren's twin girls are mirroring and healing her own complicated relationship with her mother
Lauren's first interview with Codie: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/72-navigating-motherhood-and-marriage-with/id1720436427?i=1000701676585
The Mama's Den Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-mamas-den/id1616159115
Lauren's podcast episodes from the Disney Destiny:
https://youtu.be/9bM4SZfWSBE?si=BBLf-D6ey86YVUhz
https://youtu.be/c_2ugErZMQY?si=VUxqjLK4Tw62_Q6h
📺 Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThatTwinMama/videos
🎧 Podcast Website: www.thattwinmama.com/podcast
📲 Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thattwinmamapodcast/
https://www.instagram.com/thattwinmama_/
Credits:
Production, Editing, & Music: Berty Enterprises
Photo: Birch Thomas
Design: Erin Fox Creative
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
