Things strangers say Part I

When you have just one baby, people will stop, oh and ah, and move on.

When you have two or more, people begin to take liberties and seem to lose their internal filter. You know, the one that processes thoughts and prevents you from saying something stupid? Because really, that's what twins and higher-order multiples do. They bring out the stupid in people.

Three things I would give up chocolate for to never have to hear again:

1. Were you surprised it was twins?/Do twins run in your family?- Oh, I get it. You really want to know if I needed "medical intervention" or if I just had a good ol' time. Yeah, you want to know a secret about parents of multiples? They don't mind sharing their stories with other parents of multiples or good friends. But random Jane in the Target? Who are you again? Andy why do you want to know my personal business?
   
2. Boy, you have your hands full! - This all-time "classic" is said to mothers all over the world. Do people really think we don't know that we have our hands full? And how does this help me? You know what would help? Holding the door instead of barreling past me. Oh, and if you MUST say something, tell me my kids are cute. Or well-behaved. I don't care if they are screaming and running from me at that point. I don't need to hear that my hands are full.
   
3. Are all these children yours?/HOW many children do you have? - Seriously, when I hear this question, I look around to make sure I haven't picked up any "strays" along the way. I have three children. Three. You'd think I had thirty with the way people "comment".

Okay, I realize the above sounds whiney and there are far greater problems I could have (famine, illness, yeah, yeah, I get it). But you know what? I didn't realize how much the above affected me and mentally exhausted me (you can only be polite for so long) until I encountered a woman as I was leaving the Wal-Mart. She started with, "Are all these children yours?" and I could physically feel myself brace for whatever stupid comment was about to come out of her mouth. She then stated me she had X amount of grandchildren and you just can't have too many children in this world. Oh, and my kids were beautiful too. I didn't realize until I was driving away how that encounter had left me in a good mood. And it was really nice not having to hear how full my hands were.