Since it is cold outside and I can no longer send my children outside without fear of them freezing their finger off to run off their never ending energy, you will find that we frequent indoor play areas.
And like most times when I head out with my children, people stop be to ask about me about my children.
This time it was a woman who asked me, “Are they all yours or do you do daycare?
I proceed to tell her that they were all mine and that I had an older son and triplets.
“Yes, triplets.”
Her comment made me think about all the comments from people that I have received over the years. Some of them are expected and some of them just blow my socks off.
Well, here judge for yourself.
The Things People Say When They Learn I Have Triplets.
Are the all yours?
Are they natural?
Were they all born at the same time?
Fuck!
Better you than me.
Do triplets run in your family?
Did you have to have sex three times in one night to get triplets?
Are they natural?
Wow.
Is it hard?
Boy, you have your hands full.
Do they all cry at once?
Are you going to have more kids?
Did you have help?
Are they natural?
Did each one come out of you?
Did you have triplets because you used drugs?
Do they share the same birthday?
Are they natural?
Honestly, I have stopped being surprised by the things that come out of people’s mouths.
Related posts:
{ 43 comments… read them below or add one }
“Did each one come out of you?”
WOW.
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Ha Ha … I know people mean well but honestly …I wish people would think before they open their mouths.
I had a single and then twins and I had many of those same comments … I can only imagine you get waaayyy more.
I mostly had people ask me if I had a day care when they saw my family room
) . When I was out with them I’d get the “You really have your hands full…”. I got that so often that my oldest daughter started to repeat that statement if anyone stopped to talk to me.
When asked if I’m done, my response is always … “Do you have any idea how old and tired I am? ” LOL that usually stops any further questions.
Great post !!
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I hear you! I’ve had many of the same comments with my twins. Intrusive questions (are they natural?) are the worst, but “you have your hands” full is almost as annoying. I’ll never forget the mother who said in front of my children “I don’t envy you.” The nerve of some people, I swear.
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Don’t you wish someone would just say, “How lucky!”?
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Jen Reply:
December 14th, 2010 at 8:40 am
Yes. Sometimes I just wish people would be happy and not shocked at my triplets.
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People are such idiots.
I get people pointing at my older two and ask if they are twins. I say no so they point to my middle and baby and ask if they are. Um, NO. None of them are twins.
I also get asked a lot if they were all planned since they are so close together. Niiiiice.
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So, I think the next time someone says “Did they all come out of you”, say “No, actually. I ran out of room so a couple came out of my husband.”
I like it.
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Jen Reply:
December 14th, 2010 at 8:40 am
Oh now, I can’t wait for the next time someone says that to me.
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This list was cracking me up. I have a friend w/ trips and she’s constantly telling me the crazy stuff people say. Seriously. It’s amazing how boneheaded people can be.
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If I had a damn penny for everytime I get asked “are they natural” I’d be a very rich women.
People say some really stupid things.
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I love when people ask me if my boy/girl twins are identical.
I feel the need to carry a biology book with me so I can hand it to them!
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It is hilarious when you see it all spelled out like that, but if I were honest I would have to say that I might ask one of those stupid questions without thinking. I think it is kind of like they don’t know what else to say and instead of just shutting up they let the first stupid thing they think come out of their mouth.
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“Did you have sex three times in one night” HAHAHAHAHAhahahahahaha…haaaaaa….*giggle*
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Some of that is ignorant, some is just rude! I can definitely see myself saying “WOW”, though. LOL!
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Jen Reply:
December 14th, 2010 at 8:41 am
Wow, is good. I like when people say Wow but its all about the right tone.
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Thats one long list Jen, It would have been nice if you have posted the answers also…..:) Hope it should be more fun here….:)
Beth
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I think some of those folks need a refresher course in human reproduction.
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All I can say is that the idea of three babies in one womb blows people’s minds SO MUCH that all that’s left is Stupid.
If we ever meet as strangers and I get nosey and ask if all the kids following you are your own and you say,” Yeah, that’s my older boy and my triplets”, I’m gonna say, “Neat.”
Then I’ll follow that up by saying, “They’re all gorgeous.”
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Jen Reply:
December 14th, 2010 at 8:42 am
Perfect.
Then this post has done its job.
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Hubby used to say, when asked if our girls were twins, “Nope, just saw this other one in someone else’s stroller and decided to make her ours.”…
Seriously, they were 3 weeks old and people would ask us that. What are the odds I’d be taking care of someone else’s newborn too, or that there’d be any age difference there?!
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Fuck!
That is insane!!!!
Their comments….not the fact that you have triplets! xo
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Do people not know what triplets mean? I swear, people are so dense!
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“Did you have to have sex three times in one night to get triplets?”
This one makes me laugh…only because the morning after we conceived our twins (I knew I would get pregnant..just a feeling), my husband joked, “Maybe it will be twins since we did it twice!” LMAO!
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wow who said F***? That one tickled my funny bone and was just so unexpected that I burst out laughing. I thought we taught you not to say that words.
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Jen Reply:
December 14th, 2010 at 6:57 pm
Well, you did and I didn’t say it a stranger did, right to my face with the kids around. Yup, people are awesome.
Not.
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I’m really wondering how the natural question comes about. I’m like all cornfuzzled. Like you had fake kids? Like fake boobs? People really know how to “carry” stupid sometimes don’t they?
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Wow. I only have twins and I think I’ve heard all of these too. LOL My favorite was when they were still squirming infants in a stroller, about 4 months old and people would ask “Are they twins?”
Really? “I sometimes would reply that they were 2 months apart just to watch them try and figure the math. Its amazing how many folks out there just knod as if they totally understood and it made perfect sense. HAHA! Idiots.
Oh and one day a lady asked if my three were triplets. I couldn’t help but refer to little man, hence forth, as the midget triplet!
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First: I love that you said ‘fuck’
Second: Next time someone asks you if they are “natural”; grab your boobs, give them a good jiggle and say;
“They’re natural. And they’re FABULOUS!!!”
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Okay Jen, fess up – it was ’cause of drug use, right?
(And yeah, I totally thought this post was gonna be about your boobs. Why? Because I’m classy, that’s why.)
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They should say, “What a good mom to actually feel brave enough to leave the house with 4 kids!”
Thats huge to me when I dont want to take my 3 kids anywhere!!!!
Good Job!!!
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People are stupid. I’m often asked if my kids are twins. They are 20 months apart and my boy is a full foot taller than my girl. I often say, “Yes, I just feed this one more.”
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Did you have to have sex three times???? Seriously???? Did someone really say that? Did you laugh in their face? Please tell me yes.
Lots of yummy love,
Alex aka Ma What’s For Dinner
http://www.mawhats4dinner.com
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Jen Reply:
December 14th, 2010 at 6:53 pm
Yes, someone actually said to me and they say it alot more often that what you would think.
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First of all, they are so cute!?! Second, What *I* would have given for triplets! Seriously…
Third, people just don’ think before they speak. I love some of the things I have heard over the years. Seriously.
What would you do with a $75 gift card? I have a giveaway on my blog right now for just that!
Come on over and enter!
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I know several people with triplets. I told them I would make them a sign for their stroller that answered all of the questions. They never took me up on it.
I was walking with one of the friends, and one was crying, a lady walked by and said “I wish I could help.” We were left wondering for a while what that could even mean!
The smart ass in me is very tempted to come up with better answers to these questions.
For example, when asked where my girls get their red hair, my nice response is, “It’s recessive, both of us.”
Snarky? “L’Oreal, number 245″ or “the mailman.” That usually shuts them up!
(Please tell me you saw the moms of multiples animated/digitally video from youtube going around where the mom asks “What is your favorite brand of tampon!” You saw it right?)
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Jen Reply:
December 14th, 2010 at 6:52 pm
LOVE the L’Oreal comment. That is awesome.
And yes, I saw that video.
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I always wanted multiples! Why be pregnant a few times when you can knock it all out in one shot?!
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This is some of the good stuff I need even though we are weak and only having two. Some of those comments are idiotic, but my standard comment is there too. Boy you have your hands full. I have commented recently that I am not saying that anymore. After birth we will have three under the age of 3. I have realize that I will be the one walking through the mall receiving pity from then on. Oh how things change.
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Jen Reply:
December 14th, 2010 at 6:51 pm
Yes, you will soon learn to hate that ‘boy your hands are full’ comment.
Never say it to anyone else again.
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I would never in a million years walk up to someone with multiples and ask a question that would imply infertility! Plus, it’s nobody’s business!
The comments like were they born all at once just make he shake my head. How do people not know about the birthing process?
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It is amazing what people will ask.
I get similar questions about my twins and then often get equally horrible things about my adopted kids:
“did you cheat on your husband?”
“was your first husband black?”
“Do your white kids mind having black kids in the family?” – seriously!
“who’s your favorite?”
“”you must be on welfare to afford all of those kids”
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Jen Reply:
December 14th, 2010 at 6:50 pm
Seriously, people are stupid meanie faces.
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I seriously cannot imagine sometimes how people make it through life being so ignorant.
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Please really can be stupid sometimes. The next time they ask if they all came out of you…Just tell them No, I picked them all up at Target and see their reaction then!! LOL
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Fuck! Enjoy your unnatural triplets that you conceived three separate times in one night!
jeez people can be idiots!
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I’m seriously trying to wrap my mind around the F bomb! LOL I’m picturing a random stranger. But, perhaps it was a family member or friend? When is that a proper reaction no matter who you are??? LMBO!! People can be so weird. My sister in law has fraternal twins. One with fair skin, blonde hair blue eys, and the other is tan, brown hair, dark eyes. They don’t even look like relatives much less twins. She gets so annoyed when people say they can’t tell them apart. Really?
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People will continue to shock the crap out of me till the day I die.
Really? How many times a night do you have to do it to have triplets? Really, people?
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Okay. In all honesty? I might just say the 4th one. As I bow down to you, that is…
And what is this “are they natural” crap? Geez. People are crazy.
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Oh please tell me you told those people that:
1) Yes, I had sex 3 x
2) Jeff gave birth to 2 of them
3) And the other one popped out of a can.
What the fuck is wrong with people???
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Lol! Have you ever been asked if they are identical? My SIL who has twins (a boy and a girl) got asked that all the time.. even when they were 3 and very obviously a boy and girl.
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Last week when I was taking my twins to the pediatrician, I met another new Twin mum. She told me she was out at the shops the other day and this sweet old lady came up to her and said , “Twins how lovely.” One then to continue walking and loudly remard, “I bet the’re IVF.” What the!
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Okay I realize that I may know a little more than the average Joe about multiples and all because I just enjoy learning about twins/triplets etc. but c’mon people!!! Sigh…lol!
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