Shanice and Shanika Thompson - ContributedBy Ingrid Brown, Staff Reporter
SIX-year-old twins Shanice and Shanika Thompson of Arnett Gardens looked so much alike as babies, their mother had to use the hospital name tag for six months to tell them apart.
These days the twins are slightly different in looks and their personalities are just as opposite. Their mother, 29-year-old Sharon Folkes, says it is now much easier to tell the girls apart based on their personalities.
"Shanice was born after Shanika but she is more active. She can help around the house more than Shanika. She also talks up more and is usually the one to take up for her sister," she explained.
This was most obvious when THE WEEKEND STAR visited their home. Shanice, who was all smiles despite having lost her two front teeth, was the more assertive of the two. "Teacher put we into different seat at school because 'Nika' a copy from me," she said.
Her mother, however, explained that Shanika is the slower of the two.
"During basic school they were always together but the teacher had to split them up because she needed Shanika to do her work. The teacher used to say one is very bright but to tell you the truth I can't say which one is," said Folkes.
Unlike other mothers of twins, who get to prepare for the birth of their babies, Folkes said she did not have that opportunity because she never knew she was having twins until they were born.
"I didn't go to the clinic throughout my pregnancy so I didn't find out until when I was ready to give birth the doctors realised there was another one," she explained.
Folkes says she is quite proud of her twin daughters. "I feel so proud to have twins because so many people would love to have twins and they can't so I see it as a special blessing from God," she said.
Unfortunately, the girls' father was stabbed to death when they were only two years old.
"He was so crazy over them and he really loved them so I am so sorry he is not alive to see them."
The girls are always dressed alike and they told THE WEEKEND STAR that they love wearing the same clothes. Another thing they say they are sure of is that they will still live together even when they grow up.
