Six weeks after my twins arrived and with my doctor’s blessing, I would strap them into the double-jogging stroller and trek just over a mile uphill to the nearest coffee shop. There, I would indulge in an iced venti skinny vanilla latte, savoring the moment of being out of the house. I often stopped by the international grocery store to chat with the friendly owners or pick up unique ingredients for dinner. During these outings, I frequently encountered individuals who couldn’t help but express their excitement about seeing twins, as if we were some sort of rare spectacle.
One man in line at the coffee shop exclaimed, “Hey, you better have two in that thing!”
I casually replied, “And if I don’t?”
His enthusiasm waned, leaving him stumbling for words. (Tip: Approach a mom of twins with some sensitivity—especially before she’s had her caffeine fix.)
Then there was a woman waiting for her drink who remarked, “Ohhhh, aren’t they adorable! They’re so quiet! How LUCKY you are to have two babies that sleep all the time!”
I couldn’t help but chuckle as I replied, “We’ve only been here five minutes after a 15-minute stroller ride. Do you really think they are this quiet all the time?”
“Oh, I guess not. Are they good for you at home?” she continued.
I responded, “No, they’re babies. They cry when they want to eat, sleep, or be held. And I only have two hands. So yes, they cry quite a lot.”
“Oh, I guess two is harder than one. When mine were babies, I just LOVED to hold them ALL the time! You have DOUBLE the love now!”
“Right, love is definitely doubled…including the number of diapers.” (Tip: Refrain from raving about how much love a mom of twins has when you’re decades past changing diapers.)
Another man chimed in, “Oooooh, twins! Are they paternal?”
I replied, “You mean fraternal?”
“Yeah, whatever that means,” he said, looking puzzled.
“Yes, they are fraternal,” I confirmed.
“But they’re both girls?” he asked, clearly confused.
“Yes, they are both girls. What was your first clue, the pink and purple dresses?”
He looked sheepish. “Oh, I thought fraternal meant they were both boys.”
I sighed, “No, fraternal just means they’re not identical. Two separate eggs, they can be either gender, or one of each.”
“Got it. They’re cute,” he said, finally catching on. (Tip: If biology wasn’t your strong suit, it’s best to avoid terms you don’t fully understand.)
While shopping at the local pharmacy, the cashier exclaimed, “WOW! Look at that! TWO babies! Are they TWINS?”
“Yes,” I replied, trying to navigate around her.
“Well, I just BET you’re a BUSY little thing!”
“Yes,” I said, hoping she would step aside so I could grab the baby vitamins.
“I can’t even imagine it! Do you just LOVE it?”
“It’s a challenge. Excuse me, I need to get those over there…”
“Oh, of course! I bet you have SO much to do, and here I am wasting your TIME!”
“Uh-huh, busy indeed.” [I was internally pleading for her to move.]
“Let me just take a quick peek at those babies!” she said, reaching for the blanket covering them.
“Yeah, they’re asleep, and the light disturbs them.”
“Oh, I’ll just take a quick look!”
I sighed, pulling the blanket back just a bit, “Okay.”
“Aren’t they just PRECIOUS! Well, I’ll let you get back to your business now.”
“Thanks,” I mumbled, relieved she finally backed off. (Tip: If a new mom tells you she’s busy, don’t ignore her and take a chance with her sleeping babies.)
At the farmer’s market, a woman gushed, “Aren’t they cute! Twins?”
“Yes,” I said.
“A boy and a girl?”
“No, two girls. Did the floral dress confuse you?”
“Oh, ha ha, right.” (Tip: If the child’s gender is unclear, just ask for their names.)
One woman at Starbucks asked, “Oh wow, twins! Are they natural?”
I paused for a moment, then replied, “No, we already have one real daughter, so we decided to make these out of plastic.” The silence was palpable.
“Oh, ha ha, right—well, they are beautiful.”
“Thanks.” (Tip: If you’re uncomfortable discussing how children are conceived, maybe keep your curiosity to yourself.)
Then there was the grocery bagger who, with limited English, pointed to my pregnant stomach, gestured to her breast, and said, “From here?” I nodded, puzzled as to why she thought that was any of her business. She flexed her arm like she was showing off muscles and said, “Good! Grow strong!”
Imagine where we would be without the unsolicited advice of strangers! If you’re interested in more about twins, check out this insightful post. For those considering home insemination, you can find reputable options like this at-home insemination kit that many parents have found helpful. Additionally, for more information on infertility treatment, the ACOG website is an excellent resource.
In summary, navigating life with twins can be a whirlwind of excitement and challenges, made even more interesting by the reactions of those around you. From amusing comments to unexpected questions, it’s an experience that keeps you on your toes while reminding you of the unique joys of parenting.
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