Saturday, July 23, 2011

Comeback

Girl, you've sure got your hands full!
I hear some variation of these words a lot when we're in public. It's the one line I didn't have a good comeback for.
Uh oh! Double trouble!
Comeback: No, double blessings!
As the girls have grown older, and astound me every day with how much they understand, the "hands full" phrase has bothered me more and more. I hadn't found a positive way to spin it, so I usually just smiled awkwardly, and remain silent.

I never want the girls to interpret those words to mean that they are a bother, inconvenience or a nuisance. They are gifts. And while, it's not always easy---I feel blessed beyond measure to have these two little gifts, and I want the girls to hear that and know that.

So, I hadn't come up with a good comeback, until now.

Conversation yesterday in Michael's:
Well intentioned cashier: Girl, you've sure got your hands full!
Me: Yes, full of good things
 I was grinning from ear to ear as I walked out the door!

9 comments:

MandyE (Twin Trials and Triumphs) said...

I like it! And I'm gonna borrow it! :) :)

People do say the most random things sometimes...and it sometimes just amazes me.

Over the past couple of weeks, I had one lady ask if the girls were twins...then if they were fraternal...and she said, "Oh, it's a good thing they aren't identical. They'll be much better off not looking alike."

And then another lady remarked how much the girls looked alike. I "agreed", but told her they were fraternal...one has brown eyes, one has blue eyes. She said, "Oh, I think it's looking alike that makes twins special."

Wha???

I usually just smile awkwardly, as you said, but I don't always know quite what to say to such crazy things. It's a great point to think about how the girls might interpret such exchanges...and to try to respond in such a way that doesn't introduce any more crazy doubts into their minds! :)

Wendy said...

I like it! Could i borrow it, too?

Once Upon A Time said...

I usually say ...full of love. Same thing for double trouble- double the love. :)

B. said...

Great response!
Now that our twins are old enough to understand stranger's comments its got me thinking too.
People are often telling me how my fraternal twins look "EXACTLY THE SAME!!" I don't want to argue but I don't want my boys to believe that these comments are true either. I haven't figured that one out yet.

championm2000 said...

Perfect! I can't wait to use it myself.

lifeasdescribed said...

It's hard to be clever in the moment, but you managed to pull it off! Love it!

~Cathy

Twinside Out said...

What a great response! I'm going to borrow it, too. :)

liz barber said...

Love that come back Julia. That's one comment I get a whole lot from strangers!
Sometimes though if I'm having one of those hectic days I admit when people ask if they're twins I say "yes, and it's a whole lot of work!" Other than that I try to keep it a positive spin.

Thanks for sharing!

Mary Cavalier said...

Julia - you could also say - Not as full as my heart.