"How do you do your shopping?"

It's funny, the questions you're asked and the way people act towards you when babies are involved. It starts at pregnancy. I was just talking to one of my good friends the other day who is pregnant. (she's also a drug rep who calls on Psychiatrists) She was in an office and some lady who was clearly mentally sick, just walks up to her and rubs my friends' belly. I couldn't help but laugh, because the same thing happened to me, only it was the garbage man! What?! I turned around, walked back into my house and took a hot shower. Does he have a mental issue? Probably not, because this happens all the time. Not only do people rub a stranger's stomach, but they say and ask the rudest things too! I remember when I was about 6 months pregnant, I got into an elevator after one of my ultrasounds and a man got into the elevator with me. He looked at me like a deer in headlights and exclaimed, "WOW! You look like you're about to pop! you must be due any day!". I calmly looked at him and said, "No, actually I have about 3 more months to go." (he had no idea I was carrying twins) He continued to dig himself in a hole by talking about how big I already was and how big I'm going to be etc. etc. etc. I told Brent about this, and he just laughed and laughed. Laugh all you want Brent, I was the one to laugh in the end, because you ended up sleeping in the upper left corner of the bed with little covers in a frigid cold room with me taking up about 90% of the bed lying on top of the covers.

Now, it's a different story having babies. The questions and comments really start coming. Some are really sweet, others are rude, and others are just, well, kind of stupid. Here are some samples of questions I hear just about every time I go out with the twins.

Are they twins? Uh...No, they're 5 years apart, one just has stunted growth.
Oh, how lucky, you have a boy and a girl. Are they identical? Oh the places I could go with this answer
Do twins run in your family? Yes, but is that your polite way of asking if I took fertility meds?
Did you deliver them both naturally? Do you really want details? Because I can have my husband call you later to describe everything.
Did you nurse both of them? What the?!
Double trouble, You have your hands full... Brent always laughs at me because I hate this one and always respond. "No, double the pleasure."

A question that many of you who read this blog have been asking me lately is:
How do you do your shopping? It's kind of a funny thing to wonder, but it is a good question. How do I do my shopping? Most of the time it's just a blur. I do everything I can to get in and out of the grocery store as quickly as possible. However, this is very difficult when you're stopped every few feet so people can ask me these questions. Luke and Ashley are both going through that stranger anxiety stage and scream everytime someone gets close to them (example: Little old lady with a walker, "OH, look at the cute little boy!" Luke, "AAAAHHHHH!!!) and they love to take each other's socks off and throw them on the floor, so I'm constantly having to stop turn around, walk back and pick them up, meanwhile someone else walks up, and makes Ashley scream. I try to do most of my shopping on the weekend when Brent is home, that way, he can stay home and watch the babies, but when I do have to go during the week, I usually hang the grocery store basket on the stroller handle, fill it up, then stuff the rest of the groceries in the stroller. When I have to do more shopping or get heavy things, I push the stroller and pull the cart behind me. This is usually when I get the, "wow, you have your hands full" comment. ha! You think???





This is a picture that was taken when things went well. Notice neither one has socks on? Notice I'm smiling?? So, my friends, I hope I answered this question. This is how I do my shopping....

Oh, in case any of you are wondering, Why don't I use the cart that looks like a car, but is the size of a semi truck that's made for 2 children? They're parked inside Publix, which would mean I would have to leave the twins in the car, alone, in this heat with all the crazy people down here in South Florida. Not an option. When they walk well, (Or even when one walks well enough, we can do this, but until then.......)

If anyone has any good comebacks to any of the questions above, please let me know. One of these days, I'm going to get the nerve to respond....


M

I am thankful for having healthy twins. With out them, I would never have my stories,