Most Common (and Annoying) Questions You’ll Get About Your Twins

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I asked our fellow parents of twins what are the most common questions that they receive and their answers might sound familiar.

I know that I’ve gotten my fair share of these questions as well. Read about these common questions below or check out this video summary:

Are They Twins?

The number one question, by far, that parents of twins receive when they’re out and about with their twins is, “Are they twins?”

Well, of course, they’re twins!

Why else would I have them in a double stroller? Why else would they be the same age? Why else would they be dressed identically?

Of course, there’s plenty of other responses that you can have when people ask you, Are they twins?

“Yes” is a perfectly acceptable answer, but people may want more information.

Here are a few of my favorite responses from our fellow parents of twins:

• No, actually they’re triplets, and I leave the ugly one back in the car.
• No, we’re just pretending. In fact, these are just child actors. You know, they use twins a lot in Hollywood. They’re just actors, and we’re pretending.
• No, they’re triplets! Wait. One, two… Hey, where’d the other one go?
• Nah, I just found this one in the parking lot. He looked pretty friendly, so I said, “Hop on the double stroller. Let’s go!”
• No. Actually, they are cloned through advanced scientific research, or like those clone troopers back in Star Wars.
• Well, actually, when we went to the hospital to have our baby, they were having an amazing buy-one-get-one-free offer. We took ’em up on that, and we came home with twins.
• No, actually. This is my child, and this is his stunt double. You know, because kids like to do dangerous things, so we always have this stunt double, just in case.

So, while the famous, “Are they twins?” question happens more frequently than any others, it’s usually the icebreaker question that complete strangers come up to you and ask you.

The reality is that there are plenty of other questions that people ask you that can sometimes drive you kind of crazy. Here are a few more of my favorite…

Are They Identical?

Are they identical? Well, this is a pretty benign question if you’re pushing around your boy-boy twins or your girl-girl twins, but what happens if you’ve got boy-girl twins? Well, unfortunately, people will still ask you the question, “Are they identical?”

Well, dear stranger, there are a few differences between a boy and a girl…

Are you sure they are twins?

Are you sure they are twins?

Well, let’s ask my wife, who carried them in her belly.

Let’s ask the ultrasound technician.

Let’s ask the doctor who delivered them.

Did you mean to have twins?

Did you mean to have twins? Uh, no. Not exactly.

It’s not really something that you plan.

How do you tell them apart?

How do you tell them apart?

Well, if you’re lucky enough to have boy-girl twins, you know pretty darn well how you tell them apart.

Otherwise, there is always going to be subtle differences between your twins, even if they’re totally identical.

But you can just stare at your beautiful babies in your stroller and say, “Isn’t it obvious?”

Are they natural?

Wow, so they are twins! Are they natural?

• Ah, no. Actually, this one is made of aluminum and this one is made of plastic.
• No, actually, this one is an alien.
• What’s an artificial twin, anyway?

How do you do it?

How do you do it?

How do I do it? Well, there’s really no other way to do it. I have to do it.

They’re my kids, I love them, and we make it happen.

Hands Full?

So, you have your hands full, don’t you?

Thank you, Captain Obvious! I appreciate that observation.

Double Trouble?

So, is it double trouble?

Um, yes, most of the time.

But it’s also double the fun! That’s the joy of having twins.

Who’s Older?

So, who’s older?

Oh, it’s this one.

Oh wait, maybe it’s, maybe it’s that one.

Uh, could be that one. Or maybe it’s not. I’m pretty sure it’s that one. Yeah, it’s this one right here.

Which twin do you like more?

So, which one do you like more?

Which one do I like more?

You do understand that they’re sitting right here and can hear everything we say, right?

Are they both yours?

Are they both yours?

Yeah, I’m pretty sure they’re both mine! (Then start laughing…)

How far apart were they born?

How far apart were they born?

Well, my girls were born two minutes apart.

Would you like to see their birth certificates to prove that?

Did you know you were having twins?

Did you know you were having twins?

Yeah, when my wife took the pregnancy test, it came up with those two little lines, and we knew then that it was going to be twins.

No, not really. That just means you’re pregnant!

When we went to the doctor, we had an ultrasound, and that’s when they dropped the bomb on us. Boom! You’re going to have twins.

Do twins run in your family?

Do twins run in your family?

No. Well, actually, yes, they do now. They run all over the place!

Which twin is the bad twin?

So, which twin is the good twin and which twin is the bad twin?

Wait, you do remember that they’re still sitting here, right?

Done having kids?

So, twins! That’s great! So you’re probably done having kids, right?

[blank stare…]

What did you do to have twins?

So, what did you do to have twins?

Really? Your mom never explained that to you?

Well, let me tell you about the birds and the bees.

What’s Your Favorite?

What is your favorite question that people ask you about your twins when you’re out in public?

Go ahead and leave a comment and share with us. Plus, share some of those favorite responses that you have when strangers come up and approach you and ask rather probing questions about your twins.

If you want to make it perfectly clear to everyone at the store, that you are a parent of twins, you might as well just wear a shirt that says you’ve got twins. You should get a shirt like this “Twin Parenting” shirt, over at TwinTShirtCompany.com.