A while back I posted asking for witty comebacks.

We all need things to say when someone says something rude to you about parenting at your age..... like this one that came across my email group this morning:

A man came up to me and said, "You are a little old to have twins, aren't you?" I looked at him dumbly and said, "I'm too OLD to have twins?" To which he replied, "Yes. Are they yours?"

What to say to such ignorant rude people?

I replied to the woman on the email above,

Don't ya wish you had a great comeback like:

Too old? Whatcha mean? How old do I look anyway?

We all need something quick witted to say at the time as we'll probably be in shock the first time it happened.

(like I was with SUPRISE woman)

I got a few replies to my original post, and I thought I’d share them with you here:




Fom Lisa, straight and to the point:

I'm strong and in good health, and have no intention of leaving this world any time soon. Longevity runs in my family.

Here's another:
It is very rude and insensitive to talk about people's ages, especially in front of their children.

From Dr. G

I don't know how witty these responses are, but i tend to use one or the other of them when I’m just plain fed up with the "don't you worry about dying before (fill in the blank with any designated time, or event of significant importance in your child's life)".

if I’m in a snit i usually say: "Having a child when you're younger is not a guarantee of a long life."

if I’m really aggravated I’ll say: "Young mothers die every day."

and if I’m really trying to go for the jugular I’ll say:
"Young mothers die every day. Mine did."

Ouch!


And then from Cindy:

hmmmm, how about "yup, I am a grand, great mother, thanks for noticing!!!" Or from the child --- she is a GREAT mommy, not a GRAND mommy, silly!!

(that doesn't acknowledge the death issue, but sometimes its more of an issue to the grownups than it is to the children... if that barrier hasn't been broken -- as in seeing other people within your age bracket die -- then they may not realize that it applies to you.)

So thanks to you who left an idea to reply to rude comments…

Any more folks?



comment or email Michelle V privately: olderparentadoptblog@adoptionmail.com

cvb