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“How Many Are Yours?” And Other Odd Questions Moms of Many Hear
November 15th, 2007
Having alot of kids makes you sort of a celebrity. Sometimes it is in a nice way and sometimes not. Over the years we have had alot of weird, rude, unkind, sweet, funny, amazing, ignorant, and personal questions asked and I thought I would share them with you. Many of these are questions that perfect strangers have come up to us in public and asked. ALL of them are questions that I have seriously been asked. Often in front of my kids.
and this is just half of our kids…..
1. Do you know what causes that?
Yes, actually we do. We rather enjoy it, and feel like with enough practice we will get even better at it than we all ready are.
2. Don’t you all have a t.v.?
As a matter of fact we do. We use it to keep the kids busy when we want to be alone. What do you use yours for?
3. Your husband needs to get fixed!
Really? He seems to be working just fine to me. Honey! It’s time for that 200,000 mile test drive!
4. Haven’t you ever heard of birth control?
Yes. Isn’t that the term used for when the OB-GYN isn’t there and the nurses tell you not to push?
5. Do you know that you are contributing to global warming and overpopulation?
I wish I could say I had a smart answer to this one but I didn’t. I was in shock. A woman walked up to me in a store, in front of my children and yelled at me about overpopulation and global warming. I just stood there with my mouth hanging open.
6. I heard that having alot kids stretches women out and sex is ruined. Is that true?
Again, a perfect stranger, a guy in a store. In front of my kids. I answered him with,
” I dont know! My husband IS in the Guiness book of world records for..you know…so maybe we just never noticed.”
7. Which ones are yours?
Just the boys and the girls.
8. My GOD are they all yours?
No, I rubbed peanut butter on my legs this morning and kids just started following me out of no where.
9. I am glad it is you and not me.
So am I.
10. Did you plan on having all of those kids?
No actually they were just sort of a side effect of sex.
11. I hate that people like you waste my tax dollars!
(huh?) I hate that people like you waste my oxygen.
12. Well you must have simple pregnancies and easy labors.
Umm..my LIGHTEST baby was 8lbs 11 oz. My heaviest was 11 lbs 4 oz. I am 5′4″ and medium build. Baby # 4 had shoulder dystocia. Marc and I have RH issues. None of my labors was less than 12 hours. I will see your 2 labor-horror stories and raise you 6.
13. Your poor children must not get much quality time and attention
Yeah. Because they are home with me 24/7 while yours are in day care for 10 hours. I see what you mean.
My favorite was this next one. This seriously happened.
14. I was talking to a man from church that I knew vaguely. After we had talked a few minutes he said, with confusion “Wow, you are really intelligent. Why are you wasting your mind staying home with all those kids?”
It’s a top secret military experiment. I can’t tell you about it or I will have to kill you. Think Boys From Brazil
People really do seem amazed that I am intelligent, which cracks me up.
Now, lest you think that everyone is rude…I also get people coming up to me and saying things like
1. Your kids are so well behaved.
2. I grew up in a big family. It brings back so many memories!
3. You must have alot of fun at the Holidays
Marc and I were told when we first got married that we would never have kids. I was unable to get pregnant and even if I did manage it somehow I would either have a tubal or be unable to carry full term. I have had several miscarriages, as a matter of fact. We can truly say “For this child I prayed…”
When you have a big family you don’t get offended easily and not by honest questions. But there are weirdos that want to ask very personal questions or say unkind things in front of the kids, or even make a joke at your expense, and these people are the ones that get the sarcasm from me.
So, if you have a big family, or are from a big family, did I miss anything?
Filed under Humorous, Parenting |30 Responses to ““How Many Are Yours?” And Other Odd Questions Moms of Many Hear”
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In response to the global warming and overpopulation comments, this is what we respond with:
We are not trying to overpopulate the earth, we are merely attempting to outnumber the idiots…
Hi Amy!
Yeah we use that one too, but that day I was truly speechless.
5. Do you know that you are contributing to global warming and overpopulation?
A- Close your mouth, all that hot air is melting the icecap in Greenland.
I can’t imagine the questions with eight children. We get the comments about fixing my husband or tying my tubes quite often. We only have three with each other and I have one from the previous relationship. How anyone could think they have a right to speak to others in that manner is insane.
Have you ever seen the movie “You’ve Got Mail” when Meg Ryan is talking about never being able to come up with a witty answer at just the right time? Well, that’s me! I can never come up with a come-back.
Those answers are great Marye. I laughed out loud and scared my dog.
The world is full of idiots. You can vouch for that!
Julie F-that’s great! I will remember that one..just in case. I don’t get those kinds of questions anymore…
Do you think it is the goalie mask?
Julie- I love that movie!
Megan- I am probably also an example of that…
Great comebacks. I hate being asked all those questions… One more I’ve gotten is, are you trying to catch up with the Duggars? I really do try and answer politely, but, ya know, sarcasm just jumps from my lips so easily….. I like the new blog, btw
I grew up in a big family (10 kids) and we always got the “Same Parents for all of you?” question. My sister has 8 (so far) and is constantly being asked “Don’t you know that your kids are going to hate you later for this?” WHAT??? Not a single one of us hate our parents for having many kids, in fact we kinda like having so many people on our side. Bullying wasn’t usually a problem!
We only have 3 so far, and I am always asked “That was your last one right?” Why thank you for making my decisions for me. Which one should I buy, Ham or Bacon?
Amy! LOL! Umm..I think go with the bacon today..ham hasn’t gone on sale yet.
Monica- Where is your spirit of competitiveness, girl? Wyoming has much colder winters than Arkansas. (isn’t that where the Duggars live?)
Marye,
Love it! Had me cracking up this morning.
Lisa
YAY! You know I live for that.
People truly have no manners! I have been told and asked seriously rude things as well when being pregnant. Especially this last time, since I had 2 boys, we were always asked if we were hoping for a girl. When we said “Not really”, one person actually said “LIAR!” Then, when we found out the baby was indeed another boy, one lady said “Wow, thats sucks for you!”
I am not good with the comebacks either. I need to keep a post it in my purse. LOL
Now the questions is “Are you going to try again for a girl?”
GREAT post Marye!
Laurie-
Just tell them that this timen you are trying for a puppy…That will make them wonder.
People are very insensitive sometimes. I know, I grew up in a household with six kids. Outside of our neighborhood, which was predominately Catholic, my mom used to get looks and remarks, especially at the supermarket.
I also experience rudeness. My husband is Chinese and our beautiful son resembles my husband more than me. I’ve been asked on more than one occasion if he’s adopted, if he’s my nephew or if I’m babysitting.
Remember the good old days when we were taught certain questions are plain rude?
Big families rock!
You know, Deb, it is true. People used to respect social boundaries.
Your kids are adorable.
Reading your post made me think of one of my friends who has seven kids (three are mixed race). She has people coming up to her telling her how great of a person she is to adopt so many children. People have even asked her where she gets them from (like what country, I guess).
I can’t believe that guy asked you about the stretching/sex thing in front of your kids. Or at all. But especially in front of kids. That’s so twisted.
GAH! Mom of five popping in here (hi Libby and Jennifer!) and I seriously lose it when I hear, “doncha know what causes that?” Har. Har. Har.
They’re a freakin’ genius.
Rock on, mama!
Stacey
Amy-Yeah, and that is only half of them. I will probably be introducing them, and Marc, litle by little because..well..they are overwhelming en masse
Stacey- Moms of Many DO NOT pop in anywhere…we drag ourselves painfully in and collapse.
Are any of the other ones younger? That chick in the back there looks pretty tiny.
The boy in the front looks like he’ll be an artist when he grows up. He’s got those artist eyes.
Those are my youngest four. Sean is brilliant…and he has VERY poetic eyes, altho he begged me to cut off the curls.
That was a picture they posed for to send to my oldest son, who is in the Air Force.
Will they grow back?
Not if he has anything to say about it.
well, I’m not competitive at all…. but the winters are pretty bloomin cold here. Cold enough that I just found out #7 is on its way…. dh doesn’t know yet. So, I’m going to stert getting even more comments! LOL
YAY MONICA!
Congrats girl! Hopefully Jim will be home more this time.
Hello from Canada
My name is Jody I am Gayla’s mom. She told me that I should read some of your posts. They are great as a mom and being that I was raised in a large family I love your humor what a great way of looking at life.
Keep the stories coming.
Jody
Thanks Jody!
We like Gayla alot around here…but I have one question…
:::whispering::How exactly do you get them to go so far away from home?
Rock on sister! I only have three, but always do my best to squelch such comments when they float by me.
Them: “She’s having another one?? What are they crazy? Don’t they have enough rugrats, etc, etc.”
Me: I don’t see that it’s anybody’s business but theirs how many children they have. And as far as I know they are all delightful children, not a rat in the bunch.
And re: Amy’s comment about adoption: One of my children is adopted and I’m always being told how great it is of me and what a wonderful thing we are doing for her. I don’t get that. First off, she belongs in our family, even though she got there unconventionally, it was ordained. And what she’s brought to our family far outweighs any price or sacrifice we might have made in choosing to adopt.
Squlech away! The Moms Of Many in the world salute you, ma’am!
both sides of my parents’ familys had no less than 6 each (one side would have been 8 but a set of twins died).
i currently only have two sons by my first husband, who has gone on nd remarried and had another son and is trying for another. my second husband and i want to have a child, a boy, to carry on his family name, but since invitro is our only choice sadly it doesn’t look like it will happen.
i think large families are great i have 4 bros and i am the middle child and only girl. if you choose to have more, it’s your choice, no one elses.
I live in Wales, Britain. Am I wrong in thinking this is an American site??!! Anyway, I would love a big family but simply cannot afford one. ;-( However I do sometimes ask the questions you have all said, but I dont ask through ignorance or spite, just pure AWE and admiration and some part jealousy. I raise my hat to all you wonderful loving mothers and fathers xx