By: Sarah Thompson
Occasionally, colors symbolize more than just sports teams or regional rivalries, and this lesson became clear to me during a recent visit to Boston’s Logan International Airport. While I was excitedly selecting Red Sox merchandise, my five-year-old son, Ethan, approached me with a loud declaration that caught the attention of nearby shoppers.
“Mom!” Ethan exclaimed, pointing at my collection of Red Sox items. “I’m done with the Red Sox! I want a Yankees hat!”
His statement felt like a betrayal, akin to renouncing popular comfort foods. I had to remind myself that our family in New England frequently sent Red Sox gear for Ethan and his twin brother, Noah—hats, mitts, and matching shirts in team colors. It was only later that I realized Noah was the one who consistently wore these items.
When they were born, Ethan and Noah’s resemblance was striking; I even teared up when my husband removed their hospital wristbands, fearing I would never be able to distinguish them. To make it easier for everyone, I began color-coding their outfits. Noah wore warm colors like red and orange, while Ethan donned cooler shades like blue and green. This system helped others identify them, but as they grew, they developed their own preferences.
In preschool, their friends often merged their names into “EthanNoah,” and the boys accepted it without complaint, finding it amusing. As they got older, they were introduced to a checkerboard game featuring mini Red Sox and Yankees helmets. I didn’t think much of it until Ethan often took the blue team.
Now, in the airport, Ethan was making a bold statement.
“Mom!” he shouted again, drawing even more attention. “I need a Yankees hat!”
I felt all eyes on us, as if we had disrupted a delicate display. I put down the Red Sox merchandise. My son was denouncing my beloved team in their home city, and I knew that while Red Sox hats were plentiful, a Yankees cap would be hard to come by in Logan Airport.
For a moment, I considered quieting him, but instead, I knelt to meet his gaze. “Sweetheart,” I started, my tone pleading, “we are Red Sox fans, remember?”
“No, Mommy,” he insisted. “I love the Yankees!”
A nearby bystander chuckled, and I felt the heat of embarrassment rise. Just then, Noah appeared in his Red Sox cap, curious about the commotion.
“Are they twins?” the shop clerk asked. “How do you tell them apart?”
“Easy,” the bystander chimed in, “one’s a Sox fan and the other likes the Yankees? That’s just wrong.”
Looking at Noah in his red and white shirt next to Ethan in blue and white, I suddenly understood. This wasn’t merely about baseball teams or loyalties; it was about Ethan carving out his own identity. I had been so focused on aiding our friends and family in recognizing the boys that I didn’t consider how it felt for them to be constantly grouped together and confused for one another.
Recognizing Ethan’s desire to differentiate himself, I decided to embrace his choice. I found a Yankees hat at a nearby store and encouraged him to express his individuality further with playdates away from Noah. My husband and I also began to identify subtle physical differences—Noah is slightly taller, while Ethan has eyes that are a tad closer together.
In supporting Ethan’s newfound allegiance, I even allowed him to root for the Jets over the Patriots. Though he has no idea that Yankees fans typically cheer for the Giants, I’m confident he’d say that the Giants’ uniforms contain a bit of red—Noah’s color.
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In summary, my experience at the airport taught me about the importance of individuality, especially in the context of being a twin. It’s crucial to recognize and support the unique identities of our children, even when it comes to something as seemingly trivial as sports team loyalty.
Keyphrase: Red Sox uniforms and individual identity
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