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| My big family |
Now that I have four kids, I officially have a big family. And I get the most annoying interesting comments about my brood. Most people are nice about their astonishment, but others are outright contemptuous. Since my sister has 8 kids, I don’t really see my crew as anything out of the ordinary but others sure do. So for moms of many everywhere, I thought I’d write down some of my favorite responses to some of the comments/questions I get when people hear I have 4 kids. These are ‘drop the mic’ and walk away type of answers. Someday I’m going to actually say them.
Snarky comment: Better you than me.
A. I was thinking the same thing!
Snarky comment: Boy are your hands full.
A. Better full than empty.
Snarky comment: When are you going to stop?
A. When I have an ugly one.
Snarky comment: Are you ever going to get “fixed”?
A. Fix what? Nothing’s broken.
Snarky comment: Do you know what causes that?
A. No. Do you want to show me?
Boom. Pow. Now excuse me because I have several diapers to change.
Sadly, people can be extremely insensitive when it comes to reproduction. You should say some of these at least once to make them feel “stupid.”
As a mom of 1, when people ask me if we’re having any children I say “One and done!” They usually laugh and leave it at that.
People really do say the silliest (dumbest) things! When I was pregnant with #2, people would ask what we were having, seeing my daughter in tow. When I said “it’s a boy”, most would simply reply something along the lines of “oh, good — one of each, you can be done.”
Um…. We shall see.
“When I have an ugly one” – That is hilarious! Can I just be the fly on the wall when you actually give those responses?
Oddly enough, when I was just pregnant with #2, people would look at me in shock and ask, “Was that planned?” I never understood that.
Pahahahaha! I love this Maria! I hear it all the time as well. “Are these ALL your kids?! No, I mean did you have ALL of them?” Yes, I know what you meant, but apparently you don’t understand what yes means. People are a mess. Thanks for the laugh!
I’ve heard the “you’ve got your hands full” comment so many times. To be honest, I do have my hands full…but as they have gotten older I have also gotten the “well behaved” and polite comments in public.That helps me feel much better.
I’ve made it my mission to help encourage other young mothers because I remember how hard it is to have a baby crying while in the checkout line. A friendly smile and “I remember” seems to soften the difficult days for us all.
I too try to catch the parents of bigger broods and say kind words to them, and not be that annoying person who asks the same trite questions.
People don’t even know how to mind their own business…with three girls, I get them all, too! Including (in front of them) “When are you going to try for a boy!?”
Your family is awesome!
I’m with you Maria on the rude comments we get some so often, I have the children answer on “our” behalf. “Yes we are brothers”,” Yes this is our mom”.
Oh my gosh, I actually used that last one at work one day while pregnant with my 4th back in 2009. My response came with a serious face on my part. The guy who asked me turned 12 shades of red and walked away. I’d normally just been saying “YES! We’ve got 17 years of practice doing it!” but that day I had my fill of the commentary.
I’ve gotten the Catholic question, which yes, I am, but that logic fails because my husband is not Catholic. When I had only 2 boys, I always got asked “Are you going to try for a girl?” and answered “I’m not trying for ANY!”. Laugh was on me. Not only did I get a girl, but she’s my CLONE. Then I got laughed at again, because now there’s also a red-headed version.
My kids span the course of 16 years’ age differences, so hardly anyone believes I have 4 kids, much less that my oldest is 19. So I also get a few “same dad” kind of questions. Yes people, there ARE some folks who actually get married and stay that way, and after many years, they still make babies together. Last I checked I was *supposed* to be intimate with my own husband.
Hi, I’m Hilary…no, not Hillary of “it takes a village”, I’m Hilary who MADE a village! Six boys, no lamps (they boys broke them all) and four girls, that’s our breakdown.
When I was pregnant with our 8th child and at my husband’s office “Holiday Party” on of his co-workers came up and asked if I was “really expecting your 8th child?!” I smiled and answered, “Yes.” She then went on to say very loudly, “Well, don’t you think that’s a bit irresponsible?”
“Oh, no,” I went on, “I’m not irresponsible, I’m irresistible!”
Think ive heard them all too. I have 6 boys and my 7th is a girl. The fave at the mo seems to be “ah well you’ve got your girl so now you can stop”….well yes she is my last…..due to health issues and my age…not because I had a girl!!
One woman was really annoying me.one day….”are they all yours??” she asked. “No” I replied “I just found them in the car park and thought I would borrow them to see how.many stupid questions im.asked”
Only four? 😉 I used to get a lot of comments when mine were little, but now that I have a grown up and 3 teens and 4 school aged kids (and a preschooler on the way, via air express from China), I don’t usually get remarks any more. They’re not usually all with me, for one thing. And I think I look less overwhelmed now, honestly, lol.
So good to hear so many other moms with families much larger than mine can laugh about this too. I love that my family ks rather small compared to some of you. Awesome!
Aww, great blog post Maria! As someone who has probably made one of these thoughtless comments, I apologize on behalf of those of us who ‘in-artfully’ express our awe and admiration.
You have a great family!
Maria: My Mom had nine children. I ONLY had three. I always thought three was a small brood, well when you consider it’s a third “the work” that my Mom had.
But Mom told me about an insensitive moment when one of my sister’s passed away. My sis was only about 4 months old. The nurse (I’m sure trying to console Mom) said, “Well at least you’ve got plenty others.” 🙁
I love those responses. People keep asking me if I want more with my two and then when I say no they go well you never know. Why can’t people be satisfied with the answer you give?