Ellen Nordberg, Author

Essays

Multiples Illuminated Book

Surviving the Twinning Reaction

The intense bonding connection between twins is called “the Twinning Reaction,” by psychologists and researchers. My neighbor the dog trainer says, “Don’t adopt two puppies from the same litter because they’ll never obey you.” Same concept.

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Colorado Babies

Smooth Operators or Wild Animals?

FROM COLORADO BABIES MAGAZINE, FALL 2015 My twin boys have been fascinated by pretty girls since they could wave from their double stroller. But as a mom who grew up with only one sister, I have zero experience with handling little boys who notice females and recruit their own babysitters.

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Colorado Babies

Mommy and Me²

As a stay-at-home mother of energetic three year old twin boys, the discovery of “Mommy and Me” classes made me happier than non-chafe nursing pads. I’d get out of a house so baby-proofed I couldn’t watch my own TV, and the boys would get exercise.

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River Oak Review

Broken Speed Dial

Originally in River Oak Review. “What’s the problem?” I ask, inspecting the over-sized numbers on the phone. “I can’t see in my right eye,” my ninety-one year old grandmother says. “It’s just a cloud.” “When did this happen?” I ask, placing salad bowls in front of us on her small dining table. “A week ago maybe,” she says. “The doctor thinks he can fix it.” I struggle to comprehend. She tells me the doctors say she may have some kind of degenerative arthritis syndrome, one that can be connected to another disease that makes you go blind.

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American Fitness

Ripples

Dorothy was the reason I dreaded going to work. I taught water aerobics and thought I was hot stuff. I had great music – Madonna, the soundtrack to Footloose, Donna Summer.

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Friendship Book

Meant To Be

I’ve known my friend Jessa for seven years. We’re in daily contact, and she knows all the secrets of my life: my shoplifting at age 8, how I cheated on my ex, and how I’m terrified to become a mother.

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Bicycle Love Book

Pedaling In Tandem

“Watch out for the bus!” and “Don’t you see the stop sign?” I used to scream from the back of the tandem to my boyfriend Jon in front. That was in the beginning,

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