Running Commentary

Twins are fascinating; this is a fact. I don’t think I realized how much of a wonder they are until we had our pair. I’ve never been one to strike up passing conversation with complete strangers (I don’t think I ever will), but since having our twins, I’ve found myself fielding a number of questions (sometimes very personal ones) from random people. Twins elicit stares and a running commentary from random people everywhere and anywhere we go. I’m mostly used to it now and for the most part they’re well intentioned compliments on the twins’ cuteness. Sometimes though, I’m just baffled at the nerve of these people. I endured the gawking during pregnancy; as my belly got larger and rounder, the glances got worse, although I may have been a tad hyper sensitive as I felt like the Fat Lady freak-show from the traveling circuses of yore. Some of the frequent and insightful observations during pregnancy were “you’re ready to pop” and “do you have 2 in there?”

Now that the twins are here, the running commentary has continued, except now it is directed to my charming beautiful children instead of at my ginormous belly. Here’s a collection of my favorites:

1. “Are they natural?” I assume they mean to ask whether or not they were conceived naturally or with fertility treatments, either way though the babies are indeed natural. There have been a few people who have had no qualms coming right out and asking “did you have IVF?” Seriously?
2. “Are they twins?” followed by “Are they identical?” This question always baffles me. I tend to dress the babies in conventional gender appropriate clothing and shades of pink and blue so it is quite obvious that the babes are boy/girl twins.
3. “Twins must run in your family.”
4. “Did you plan on having twins?”
5. “Are you breastfeeding them?”
6. “I always wanted twins.”
7. “Double Trouble!”
8. “You’ve got your hands full!”

I don’t generally mind, but it gets old quickly. There are some I’ve appreciated, especially in the first few months; these came from people who’d point out that they were the parents or grandparents of twins, and they’d offer words of encouragement or simply say “it gets easier.” I imagine that the running commentary will slow down as the babes get older and it isn’t as obvious that they’re the same age. At least I hope so.