Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Truth Be Told

We all know those people who feel the obligation to tell others what they think about things "because it's the truth." Never mind that it's rude, if it's the truth it's okay to say it. You know the type, right?

Sitting in the Houston airport returning from our adventure, I had everything under control. Seth was in his stroller happily drinking a bottle. Brigham and Hunter were sitting at a counter snacking on muffins and chocolate milk. I was standing between the two parties, my weight perfectly balanced on both feet so I could move either direction, if needed, in a split second. Control. A woman sat watching us from a nearby chair. Assessing my abilities to juggle all three of my littles by myself she said with a true Texas drawl, "You're a brave woman." Then after a moment, "Either that or you're stupid."

And then...

Last Saturday I was at Lowe's looking at carpet samples with Brigham and Hunter. They were being particularly obnoxious, but still the woman in the window treatment department said, "Your boys are so cute." "Wow, that's not what I've been telling them. I've been telling them how naughty they are," I replied. "I said they were cute," she responded, "I didn't say they were well-behaved."

I am not okay with these comments because they're "the truth", but I am okay with them because they're funny. I don't believe "honesty" should be an excuse to say rude things. "Humor" on the other hand...well, that's a horse of a different color...

7 comments:

Sami said...

Well that is a great way to look at it. All for the sake of a little HUMOR!!! I will remember that one. :) Love ya!

- jeana said...

i'm glad you see the humor. even I would have a hard time seeing it in either of those situations. i probably would have slapped them both :)

Staci Kramer said...

john and I have had this fight a hundred times. He loves to say mean things in the heat of battle and then back it up with, ITS TRUE! To which I respond, oh, so TRUE things are fair play! I have a few TRUE things that I'd like to mention then.... This works everytime. He suddenly wants to make up and be humble before his TRUTHS are listed. People love to dish it out to everyone else but they don't want to hear it about themselves. And for the record, your boys are cute. Naughtiness and all. Also, I can't wait for the day that someone makes a rude remark about your kids and you reply by dropping the "their dad recently died in a horrible car wreck" bomb. Please wait for a time when you have video surveillance set up so we can all see the stupid look on their face.

Erin said...

People need to learn when to quit talking. Both of their comments were fine at first, but then of course they just couldn't stop talking. The second lady was kindof funny, but I probably would have had words with the first. I've been getting alot of "Oh, when are you due?"..."Really? Because you look like you're going to pop!" Yet again, one just needs to learn when to quit talking. Everything doesn't need a comment.

Jeremy said...

I agree with Erin. But sometimes I find myself on the other end of the conversation not thinking about what I'm about to say before I say it. I still have trouble with this even though I have been getting better. Thats why I've been training myself not to talk at all. The funny thing is most of the stuff I say ends up makeing me sound dumb.

Orr Family said...

Some days I hate to leave the house because of the comments I get! I always hear, "wow your hands are full", or "are they all yours?" or my favorite, "why would you have so many?" I do not understand why everyone else deems it necessary to comments on someone else life with out knowing the story. Yes I am crazy, my husband has been gone for 8 months, or in your case, yes I am crazy but I am embracing my new life as a mother of three boys. I think at night when it is quite and everyone is asleep, wow I went grocery shopping with four children running in different directions, I am awesome! Just know you are awesome for taking your boys on a trip, they will never forget it, and one day when they are grown with children they will think, my mom was so amazing to take us three boys by herself on trips, to the zoo, to the grocery store, one day they will see how amazing you really are! Just ignore the comments, I do!

Quin's momma said...

OK, I cannot believe the lady at Lowe's. She would have received a stare from me which made her feel about 1/2 an inch high. Toad. I agree, your boys will look back when they're grown and be totally amazed at how brave and cool you are.