Thirty-one years after my identical twin girls were born, I hold these truths to be self-evident...

1. No matter how hard you try to make them into individuals, the magnetic pull of twinism is always stronger than momism. (Example: When they met each other at a spa weekend for their 25th birthday, one traveled east from NC, the other traveled west from AR and they met within only ten minutes of each other at the spa in Nashville, despite my recommendations on when to leave!)
2. There will always be one dominant twin and one submissive twin, although the relationship may reverse occasionally. (That's why I sent the submissive twin on an outward bound camping trip when she was twelve.  To this day, she says it's the best thing I ever did to foster her independence.)
3. In a family with three children, the twins will always form a united front against the third, or their parents, or their grandparents. (Like I said, it's a strong bond!)
4. When they're younger, identical twins don't like to do anything the same - dress the same, have the same hair, etc. so their friends can tell them apart.  However, when they get older, they may unintentionally do things in an identical manner.  (Example: When one visited the other for the first time in her new home, they discovered that they had purchased the exact same sofa in the exact same fabric from two different furniture chains in two different states.  What are the chances of that happening?)
5. They will always watch each others backs. (Example: When you go to college and nobody knows you're a twin, you can easily study for one test, trade IDs and retake the test for your sister!)
6. Watching identical twins grow and mature into responsible adults has been an interesting voyage of love and amazement!  I am so glad I was blessed with identical twin girls and an older child who paved the way for them.  

For suggestions on how to help identical twins mature independently, read my related article: Declaration of TWINdependence