small, boy shaped, environmental criminals?

[idiuntno57]

I was in the supermarket this afternoon with my x4 DS. They are very close in age and I got the (very familiar) "are they all yours " question from someone in the checkout behind me.

My immediate response was "yes...and I know they are an environmental crime but they make me very happy". Not sure why I said this. Person laughed nervously but clearly thought they were an environmental crime but was a bit surprised that I'd said so.

AIBU to think that I have just swallowed too much mumsnet bile about big families (and their environmental criminality) and should have said something much more witty (and what could that be?)?

What? Environmental crime?

Do people really say that?

You could have said that they were a BOGOF deal.

Otherwise I would have said "No, I just collected a few random children on my way around" (N.B. This response might result in an conversation with the police if the person took you seriously)

are they all yours? yes ALL the time. They look like peas in a pod

I imagine the person laughed nervously because they had no idea what you were on about. Most normal people (i.e. people in RL) would simply think "gosh she's got her hands full", or "what a lovely looking family". Your response probably made her think you were unhinged.

Environmental crime? Do they emit tons of gas and waste? Are they tearing the ozone layer apart?

Nothing wrong with big families OP, I wish I'd been part of one. Tis a lonely life!

What? Environmental crime?

Having children is pretty much the worst thing a person can do to the environment. Having multiple children compounds this.

"They're quads"

'Well they will be when I've paid...there's a buy one get three free deal over on aisle 4....'

I've got 6 DC I get asked if they're all mine all the time along with have they all got the same father

Well I suppose they technically are an environmental crime if all reproduction is but no ones going to say it to your face

You may have jumped the gun a bit

I get that with my two boys, 'are they both yours?' or 'do they have the same father?'

It's just a question, isn't it?

Having children (or pets) is very bad for the environment but that's not what anyone's thinking when the notice a large family.

Good to know that IABU and also a bit unhinged

tbh I consider myself quite intelligent but if someone said to me about four small boys "I know they are an environmental crime but they make me very happy" I would assume they were referring to them being dirty/smelly as small boys so often are.

In fact that's what I thought when I clicked on this thread.

On the positive side, I'm sure they'll never question another parent again

I used to get this with my three DS (now strapping teenagers). They looked incredibly close in age, although just under and just over 2 year gaps.

I liked it. I said "yes!" And silently patted my own back at the über cool mum that I was. I didn't take it as criticism - was that the aim of the comments??

I wish I had thought of your response. Damn.

What is the correct response to "do they all have the same father?" Because I hate that question. It feels rude and intrusive, and in my case the answer is "no, I remarried", but I want a witty retort dammit!

I tend to go with (in response to "gosh are they all yours?") something like, "they're just all so utterly adorable I don't think I'll ever stop" or something equally enthusiastic. It's the other question I loathe.

They're obvs yours. Why the feckity would you be in a supermarket, of all places, with 4 kids if it didn't mean you'd go to prison if you left them home alone

FWIW it's no less intrusive if you've only got one. I'm often invited to discuss my fertility options at checkout, hence my penchant for Ocado.

"they're just all so utterly adorable I don't think I'll ever stop"

"Yes, my partner, Mr Frankenstein, has a machine in the garage, would you like to borrow it?"

Person laughed nervously but clearly thought they were an environmental crime

How the jeff can you know what they were thinking when they asked if they were all yours? I'd probably have been thinking you deserved a medal. Paranoid much?

I didn't take it as criticism - was that the aim of the comments??

The more I think about it the more it probably wasn't real criticism rather incredulity but I think these days I assume the criticism because I have read it so often on here. Am liking some of the suggestions though.

FWIW my environment is vastly improved by their presence on this earth. Well emotionally at least. House is always chaos. However I probably do feel guilt about producing so many potential sperm producers..thats potentially millions more little people on this overcrowded earth