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"Are They Really Twins?"
Top 6 Questions You Will Be Asked and How to Handle Them
By Elizabeth Lyons
I'll admit, I'm not fond of this one! It's just so unnecessary and as my mother always says, "If you have nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all." Some people just feel they have to say something – who knows why – so they say something relatively silly. Here are two options: Put on your best half-smile and keep walking or comment as nicely (or as cynically) as you would like, "Me, too!"
Honestly, this is another of my not-so-favorites. But here's what I've come to dissect from this comment: When people ask, "How do you do it?" they don't really want an answer. This is just translation for "I could not do it." And no, clearly they could not or they would have twins with them as well. Nevertheless, I realize that – albeit completely subconsciously – they are paying me a compliment. They are saying, "I could not do it. You are doing it. You are an amazing human being whom I only wish I had the fortitude to be able to call my friend," and, therefore, I've taken to accepting this statement simply as a poorly worded compliment.
I usually respond (so I'm not totally rude to these kind, complimentary folks) with, "Oh, they make it easy." If, however, you are having a particularly bad day provide the inquirer with the answer to his or her question. Go on and on, beginning with, "Well, I get up around 6:30 a.m. I go down and get breakfast ready for the troops, and then I fly like Mary Poppins back up the steps and sneak silently into their room to pick out their coordinating outfits for the day. I subsequently slide down the banister, and skip into the family room to ensure that all the videos, books and other learning toys are lined up and ready to go." By this point, the questioner is trying to get away from you.