The Stranger

It has been a while since I launched this website and my plan was to post a story once every two weeks. Okay, that was a little bit too ambitious, especially since I am currently taking care of the children on my own on weekdays, which to be honest is rather intense. However, I am adding new recipes every now and then, but that is about all I can add to my daily schedule at the moment. No problem, if you ask me. It is the quality that counts, not the quantity 😉

In my last post I wrote about my mom’s response to the ‘we-are-expecting-triplets’ news. Although my mom’s reaction was interesting, some of the (unsolicited) feedback I get from random people in the street often leaves me puzzled…

This started during my pregnancy when people would say things such as: “What are you getting yourselves into”. Hmm, thank you for the advice, mate, but you’re approximately five months late. Or: “At least you only have to get through two pregnancies to have five children, where I had to go through…[followed by a number]”. You’re right, you’re absolutely right. What am I even complaining about?! By the way, I don’t think I was complaining all that much, but then again, I can’t say I was really enjoying the whole pregnancy experience either.

Okay, but now imagine me walking around with all the kids doing grocery shopping (as if that ever happens) or running other errands (okay, this happens only occasionally), while a complete stranger passes by who looks at the three babies in the stroller and then asks me:

“Are those three babies?”

Me with lifted eyebrows: “Yes Bingo! Unbelievable you just noticed that in an instance.”

Stranger: “Are they triplets?”

Me pushing the twins towards the stranger: “Yes, they are triplets and these are my twins.”

Stranger: “I beg your pardon?”

Me: “Yes, we have twins and triplets.”

Okay, this is how almost every conversation starts. But here comes the rest of the conversation. People usually have the same question but they put it in a different package, if you know what I mean.

Stranger: “Wow, did you conceive them naturally?”

Or

Stranger: “IVF?” (No further introduction, no other words, just a simple question and they usually expect a simple answer: Yes or No!)

Or

Stranger: “Does it run in your family?” (this is a normal question, but we all know why ‘the stranger’ wants me to answer it..)

Or

Stranger: “One more round and you’ll have quadruplets!” (okay, this one has another message, but I think I heard this as many times as the other ones)

Don’t get me wrong, I find it hilarious that people (especially Dutch people) are quite cheeky and I totally understand the curiosity of people. I even must admit that I would want to know the same thing if I would run into such a bizarre masterpiece, but I still think it is rather strange to discuss my fertility with a total stranger on the market or at the gasstation for instance.

Anyway, no hard feelings, I think I’m the luckiest person in the world with our team and I’m always proud to show off with all of them.

This is what a “quick” stroll through the streets of Leiden looks like: