Disney Quest 2010: Reactions

DSC_5362c

Whenever we take the boys out, especially if it requires The Beast Quad Stroller (which we use pretty much limit to long walks or big excursions now) it becomes a spectator event.  Most people have never encountered quadruplets in person. People take their pictures and pelt you with questions from every angle.  Most of the time in the following order:

1. Are they … (long pause)?  We usually fill in the blank with “QUADRUPLETS” for them, because no one can seem to come up with it in the moment.

2. How old are they?

3. Are they all identical?

These 3 questions are often followed by another round of infertility questions that are both inappropriate and awkward to be asked in a crowd of strangers. Sometimes people make very hurtful and crass remarks. However, many times people are gracious and encouraging. (Which is a breath of fresh air!)

Regardless of the reactions, we know that this comes with the territory of parenting multiples.  Most of the time we are take the attention in stride, smile for random pictures, answer questions, and roll with it.

Overall, our reception with Disney goers was very pleasant.  In fact, I wish that the happiest place on earth would rub off on the rest of the nation! =)

A few times we had to end some long-winded conversations because we had to be mindful that our kids were experiencing Walt Disney world for the first times in their lives and they are THREE for goodness sakes.  They aren’t always amused by stopping for 20 minutes to discuss a stranger’s aunt’s neighbor’s sister who had twins 13 years ago while watching the Dumbo ride take off when they remain trapped in the stroller.

Some “unique” initial reactions have stuck in our memory and made us chuckle several times since returning home. Here’s just a taste:

“WHAT. ARE. THEY???????????????” (Was one of my personal all-time favorites.  I was so tempted to tell the sweet old lady that they were 3 year old aliens, but I resisted the urge as Brad answered with a smile, “Children”.)

“Awwww.  Oh My Goodness.  They are like a bunch of little Dalmatians.” (Dalmatians?  Thanks. I think.)

“One. Two. Three. Four. Four? Four?  Inter-resting.” (And so are you, Dude.)

“How You Do That?  They all came out of you?  All Them? How’d That Happen? How You Do That?” (Um, did you they not cover that in your middle school health class curriculum?)

 

Perhaps you had to be there or be in our shoes to find the humor in these, but I wanted to write it down to remember it someday.  After all, that’s what blogging is all about, isn’t it?