Quiver Full Frequently Asked Questions

 

I’ve gathered fun Q&A over the years from several quiver full moms. I just ran across this list in my files dated 2003 today. I’m looking at this list from a different perspective today.

I would much rather have “Are they all yours?” and the questions below than the ones I’m getting now. Our eleven children range in age from 6 to 34. I had my 6 year old at 46. My health issues this year must have really aged me because in the last few months I get, “Are these your grandsons?” quite a lot.

I don’t mind looking old enough to be a grandmother. I am one 13 times over and most of them are older than 6. But I like being Mommy too…my little boys’ Mommy. Maybe I can get a “I’m his Mom not his Grandma” button. :-)

So enjoy the questions while you get them. At least you look like the mommy. Hey, you get asked because you have blessings!

.

The #1 Question: Are they all yours?

  • (My answer) I think so. Let me count, hmmmm I think there might be one missing.
  • No, this is not all of them, my oldest is at home with the triplets.
  • No, a couple of them started following us a few minutes ago. — This is especially funny when you look at your kids and realize that one of them really ISN’T yours — he had just started following you and you didn’t notice before…
  • No, I picked up a couple extra in the produce aisle.
  • Gee, I never heard that question before!
  • Yes, they are! And then one of the boys will pipe up and mention the 21 yo and the 18 yo if they are not there and of course the baby on the way!
  • Of course they’re all mine. Do you think I take six (or fill in your number) kids shopping for fun?
  • No……….I have two more at home! (When it fits)
  • Well, no, they are not all “OURS” but in our hearts they are……
  • Yes, and they’re such good kids!! (the kids love that one!)
  • Of course they are..wait..who is that one? Hes not ours…..oh, yeah,#5, I forgot I had him.
  • Yes. But if you have any you don’t want, I’ll gladly take them, too.
  • No. I’ve been an avid collector for years and just picked these up in the food court!
  • Most of the time I only have my 7 youngest ones with me, so when someone asks this, I say yes and one of the younger ones will say and there are 4 more. Then we wait to see how long it takes them to add 7+4. Then you should see the looks we get.

Did you give birth to all of them?

  • (My answer) I gave birth to nine then God gave me two more. But I love them all and all of their children equally.
  • Yes, I gave birth to them all. Do you really believe the stork dropped them off?
  • Yes, in my heart…… (for adoptive parents)
  • Not all of them. We found Tommy in the cabbage patch and Melissa in the mail box. And Cheryl, where did you come from again?

 

You have your hands full!

  • (My answer) My grandmother always said, “Many hands make light work.”
  • Yes, happily so!
  • Yes, and my heart too.
  • Don’t say anything, just look puzzled at your hands. (This does obviously not work if you are carrying a baby)
  • Yes, but I would rather have my hands full than empty!

Are you going to have more?

  • (My answer) When God gives me a blessing I can’t refuse it.
  • Why do you want to know?
  • Well, not today.
  • We are trying to get into the Guinness Book of World Records for largest family living in one house, etc.
  • OH, YES! I want to have a family bigger then the one in my favorite movie, “Yours, Mine & Ours!” to beat the 19 they had!!
  • Yes, I always want just one more.
  • Well, we do have a twelve-passenger van.
  • Check back in nine months and you’ll see for yourself.

Don’t you know what causes that?

  • (My answer) Yes, it’s the super power I asked for. I bear children.
  • No, please tell me!
  • Smile brightly and say with enthusiasm “Yes, and we like it!”
  • Well, we don’t have a TV.
  • Of course, don’t you?
  • Yes, we do know what causes that and we like it very much, thank you.
  • Oh yes, we finally figured it out and we now keep the tooth brushes in separate glasses!
  • Oh yes, I now wash my husband’s underwear separately.
  • Oh yes, having a great sex life!
  • Water or sex, but I don’t want to give up either.
  • It’s in the water. Would you like a glass?
  • Yes, and I know WHO causes it! God gave us these children!
  • Yes I do……..cold winter nights………
  • LOVE! An overabundance of love!!
  • Yes, and it is something I am very good at…
  • Of course, and the Lord has greatly blessed us!
  • A strong husband/wife relationship, big hearts, and the Lord’s blessing.

Are you going to get fixed?

  • (My answer) No, I am not broken!
  • Why do you want to know?
  • Huh, we thought everything was working fine for us!?!
  • We didn’t know anything was broken.
  • Don’t you only fix things that aren’t working properly?
  • Well, as you can see by the size of OUR family everything is in working order.

I can’t believe how you do it, I cannot even handle my two!

  • (My answer) God never gives us more than we can bear.
  • I put knobs on the kids. Makes them easier to handle.
  • With lots of patience, patience, patience, I go and look at them while they’re sleeping. This reminds me of what sweet children of God they are and keeps me going!
  • Oh, I just do it. Wake up in the morning, do what you have to do all day, go to bed when it’s done.
  • Pick your battles carefully. It helps to have selective sight and hearing!
  • Don’t sweat the small stuff.
  • Oh, straight jackets and handcuffs!

Are you planning to have any more?

  • (My answer) We let God make those decisions. I hope so, I love babies.
  • I collect children. I wonder if anyone asks Jay Leno if he’s going to buy more cars?
  • I’ve been wondering about this and maybe you can explain it to me: I always thought you had to plan NOT to have more.
  • Before we were married we planned on having 2, but I didn’t know that my husband couldn’t count!
  • We didn’t plan the first six, I don’t think we’ll plan the next six, either.

I hope you aren’t planning to have anymore?!?

  • (My answer) God has it all under control.
  • You know, I think you are right – we have too many. In fact maybe I should give a few away, which one do think should go?
  • Well, I kind of like children. Is that OK?
  • You mean, I just figured out what I’m really, really good at, and you’re telling me to stop doing it?
  • Talk to God about it… it’s up to Him.
  • Well, we do have room in our van for 2 more.
  • OK, I won’t plan my next one. Surprises can be fun!
  • Yup, we are going to keep going till we get an ugly one.

Haven’t you heard of birth control?

  • (My answer) I let God to control my births.
  • Yes, and I thank God it doesn’t always work!
  • Oh yes, it’s for people who don’t want children.

Don’t you have a television?

  • (My answer) Yes, but the reception is horrible at night.
  • Yes, but we only get X-rated channels.
  • No, we have much better things to do at night!

How can you afford having so many?

  • (My answer) When God supplies the lambs He supplies the pasture.
    (I also like) I have a very wealthy Father (pointing up).
  • Lifestyles are expensive, not kids.
  • I figure you spend what you make, you may as well spend it on more.

Quiverfull Carnivals

What Would You Say?

Now help me out. How do I answer next time someone says, “Are these your grandsons?”? Leave your answer in the comments.

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16 Comments about “Quiver Full Frequently Asked Questions”

  1. Holly Says:

    No, their my sons. I was noticing that you look pregnant, when are you due?


  2. MamaArcher Says:

    Thanks Robin for linking to me! You are such a sweetie! Oh and by the way..I love the “I put knobs on the kids. Makes them easier to handle.” That is just too funny!!
    Hope you have a blessed Lord’s Day today!!
    Kristine

    MamaArcher’s last blog post..Pray for Your Children-Pt. 2


  3. Kathryn Says:

    I”m 39 and I get the grandma comment with my two year old (and we’re having another baby in a couple of weeks.. guess I can expect it to keep occurring).. I dont dye my hair and I do have some gray so that’s one of my favorite answers.. Are you the grandma? “No, I”m the mom.. bet you wouldn’t ask if my hair wasn’t so gray”.. etc. People usually react w/appropriate embarrassment!


  4. Christina Brown Says:

    Homesteading Carnival #37 is up! Thanks for your submission!


  5. Christina Brown Says:

    The link to the Homesteading Carnival is:
    http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/quietcajun/482659/


  6. Jennifer Says:

    I can’t even believe people can ask some of the more judgmental private questions like are you getting fixed. Do they think you are a dog?!?! That sounds horrible. I also have no idea how to handle the G-ma question but my daughter and I were trying to figure out the picture and I counted 11 and one adult so I thought your kids and then I realized there is NO WAY they are all too close in age. DUH. So is it Grandkids less 2?
    My sister is turning 40 this month and is expecting her first child so I can only imagine she may hear that question also, although I hope not. She is 16 months older than me and my oldest will be 17 before her baby is born. I think that is God having a good sense of humor. I love that you are letting God determine what is the right number of kids. It shows a faith in knowing that God will never give you more than you can handle. We could all learn a great lesson through that.
    Smiles!

    Jennifer’s last blog post..Pixie Stix will get you in trouble every time.


  7. Penney Douglas Says:

    I’ve just started getting the grandma question with my 12 month old, and I’m pregnant with number 10 (just started showing though). I’m only 44. But some grandmas are really young! :eek: My oldest is 17, so I won’t be a grandma for a few years yet. I bet you were a young grandma! I just get real indignant and say, “No, I’m her mommy.” Not too clever, but they do usually get embarrassed, so I get to share my pain! I usually go ahead and tell them that she’s number 9, and my oldest is 17. Then they forget all about how old I look. One comment that really bothered me was when I had my 8-year-old at the library all by herself and the librarian asked if she was mine or my grandchild. I was pretty shocked at that. I think it’s just because so many grandparents take care of their grandchildren these days instead of the parents.

    Just think of it that way. It helps! :razz:

    Love,
    Penney

    Penney Douglas’s last blog post..Great Buy Alert


  8. Sarah Says:

    I just turned 29, so I don’t get the grandma questions yet. I did, however, get many of those rude comments when I was pregnant with my 4th blessing last year. Four isn’t *that* many! I really resented having to defend myself. After my baby died (I carried him 15 weeks), I hope those people felt like heels.


  9. Sarah Says:

    When we travel through WalMart my most asked and hated question is, “Are you a daycare”? I get this question even more than. “Are they all yours”? Two of our many children are adopted and have a difference race than the rest. Also, my oldest is 10. I assume that is what prompts the day care question. Which leads me to wonder, “Who takes a daycare to shop for groceries”!?


  10. Leinani Says:

    Very funny post! I love your answers and other replies! :razz: Isn’t it awful that I get some of those questions with 3 children?!!! Either people aren’t thinking before they speak or advocates of a one child only law?!!!

    Leinani’s last blog post..Frugal Tips for Presidents? Day


  11. Linda Says:

    I am jealous of your problem. I have wanted a dozen (give or take a few :grin: ) kids for years. My dh and I have 3 precious babies in heaven. I hope someday, I’ll have a chance to use your hilarious list.


  12. Creekermom Says:

    I have 2 blessings that are 14 yrs apart, God’s timing not mine.
    I have only gotten the grandma question when my DD was about 2′ish… I just turned 43.
    and my oldest is about to turn 19.

    In response to your question….
    Maybe consider using: Well if I was older I guess I could be their grandma.
    or NO, they are all mine, I started when I was 11 yrs old. (then you will really get a look)

    I also have to tell you that I love one of your responses that said, Lifestyles cost a lot, kids don’t (Not sure if I have the exact statement there) But that is SO true… if people just do the basics life is so much richer in so many ways and less stressful too!


  13. KL Says:

    Unfortunately, after number five, we could no longer have children. I was only 27. I’ve had people scream in my face, haven’t you heard of the population explosion. I just laughed!!!! Heard of it, I saw it every day.

    To people who said, “You sure have your hands full!” I would reply, “No, just my heart full.”

    I loved the one about the grey hair. It was good for a good belly laugh.

    I read all this to my youngest, 16 year old son. We laughed and laughed. He’s hoping he can find a wife that wants a dozen children. He gets it.

    KL’s last blog post..Living Books for Learning


  14. Ashley Says:

    Yes… they are “grand” sons!

    Ashley’s last blog post..Education


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