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"Are They Really Twins?"
Top 6 Questions You Will Be Asked and How to Handle Them
By Elizabeth Lyons
When the day arrives that you feel confident and capable enough to venture out with your multiples, you will rejoice – loudly! It's also a good idea to be aware that although the incidence of twins is still on the rise in this country, and their existence sometimes seems as common as the need for a diaper to be changed, strangers' questions and comments may cause you to question whether or not your multiples are the only ones they've ever encountered.
You simply would not believe how interested perfect strangers can be in the conception and management of your babies. One could pen an entire book on the comments you are likely to receive, the questions you will probably be asked and ways – polite or otherwise – to respond to those questions and comments (depending on your hormone level that day, how tired you are of the particular question, and how nice a person you are to begin with).
Here are some of the more common questions you are sure to be asked along with a variety of responses you can have at-the-ready:
Never, never, will I understand how people feel comfortable asking others – especially perfect strangers – this question. That said, should you be provided with the opportunity to tell your story to an inquisitive stranger and find yourself excited by the chance to talk to an adult – any adult – for a while (no matter the topic), then by all means park that stroller, sit down on a bench and start at day one.
If, on the other hand, you find yourself responding as most of us do – wide-eyed and frantic to find the nearest exit – one of my favorite responses is, "Oh, are you having trouble getting pregnant?" People are usually not nearly as comfortable answering this question as they were asking their initial one, so this often ends the whole discussion in a hurry. Another option is to respond, while wearing the biggest smile you can muster, "Why do you want to know?" You would be positively amazed by how many questioners have no clue why they want to know and will simply move on. A final favorite response of mine is to smile and simply say, "Wow, that's a really personal question!" (And then just keep walking). It's kind of like saying, "None of your bleeping business!" with the nice tone that a mother of multiples should use.