Yes, as some people have mentioned, I am usually a pretty good sport about the funny things people say. There is a very good reason for that. I suffer from open-mouth-insert-foot syndrome myself, so I feel the pain of the person who just said something really silly.
Here are my three strikes with other bloggers I’ve met recently:
1. We were discussing funny things people say about having several kids, since about two seems to be the norm these days. I told her the one that cracked me up the most was when I stopped by a garage sale and the question the lady asked me was, “Are they all from the same father?”
The blogger I had just met didn’t find it all that humorous, “Well, it does happen you know.” She has a blended family. Duh!
2. With this pregnancy everyone remotely close to me told me this just HAD to be a boy. My husband, kids, everyone was hoping it would be a boy. I was talking to a blogger that I had just met. She asked me how many children I have and if this pregnancy was a boy or girl. I answered, “Oh yes, I was just so relieved that this is a boy since that is what everyone wants.” She looked at me kind of strangely and didn’t say anything else. Come to find out she has eight children, seven of whom are girls. Way to go, Esther!
3. The above scenario played itself out as a double whammy. The other lady sitting close by that I had just been introduced to as well is pregnant with her eighth–all boys.
Is there any wonder I don’t have many friends? I say all the wrong things to all the wrong people! So yes, I very much understand this problem and am resolved that when someone says the wrong thing to me, I will see the humor and not take offense. I so appreciate when others do that for me!
I’m linked to Works for Me Wednesday, and Women Living Well.
Hi Esther, I have found that sometimes the best (and safest) thing for me to do is simply answer the question with as few words as possible without adding anything more. 😉
Oh my word. I know this is supposed to be funny, but it sounds like you’re surrounded by some really sensitive people. I don’t believe any of those things you said were open mouth insert foot.
I’d be your friend, Esther….if we lived close. Like I always say 🙂
@Mari, lol Thankfully they were all still kind to me afterwards! Whew! 😉
When I was in college my family was visiting an older couple and in a general discussion about wars, I said I didn’t see why any woman would want to go to war. This was back before it was as common as it is now for women to be in the military. It turned out that our hosts’ only daughter had been a WAC and had been killed in WWII. Well, that’s not the only such experience like that I have had, but it might be the worst.
You described a syndrome that I suffer from…I am like you, do not mean to offend anyone! I think people will like your sense of humor…
Stuff like that happens to me all the time…
We all do that from time to time. I have learned sometimes it is just best to not say anything. lol
But when I do put my foot in my mouth I just try to let them know I didn’t mean it in a mean way at all. 😉
seeing the humor and not the offense is the only way to go!!
Yes I agree with Lynn, sometimes it is better if you use only a few words. By the way, I do have a close friend who has five boys. Only two of her boys have the same father, so the question that the lady asked you at the garage sale is very true.
I know that feeling. I’ve decided that silence is an under-appreciated trait…
I hate it when I say the wrong thing, especially with my high anxiety!
I suffer from the same syndrome. But I always laugh about it later. 🙂
people end up staring at me more often than not in conversations… i then go away and think about what i said, and realize, my sense of humor (not hurtful just very dry/sarcastic) either goes over thier head, or they just aren’t up for “punny” people… i seem to say the wrong thing, all the time! 🙂 you are so NOT alone, esther. and for the record, for being in a 5th pregnancy and for all the work it takes keeping up with 4 kids and teaching, cleaning, cooking, being a wife, and a daily blogger, you amaze me!!!
Hey…I like to think of it as being approachable. Who wants to be a super polished glamazon that other women are intimidated by? I’m not into that…even if I in some dream world could be. 🙂
I hate it when I put my foot in my mouth!!!
I would probably have laughed about the “are they all from the same guy” comment too.
You can talk to me anytime. We foot-in-mouth people need to stick together!
Thats the spirit, its great that you can take things so lightly, more people need to relax like that. I rarely get offended, I don’t often put my foot in my mouth though, but I find it funny when it happens, not offensive at all.
After connecting with you on Twitter, I thought I’d jump over and take a look at your site. This will have to become a staple for as I seem to have the same issue as you mention in this blog post. All I can say is you can’t please everyone all the time so just be yourself. You will then be the gift that God intended you to be to the rest of us. Thanks for posting and for the good hearted laughs!
eh, don’t worry about it. None of your comments were malicious in any way. We all say silly things sometimes!
Me too. I’ve tried sitting quietly but then people think I am rude or snobbish. If let myself go and get animated people get put out.
At least you know why. Most of the time I an too clueless and don’t figure it out for days. Even when someone explains I still have a hard time understanding. I try to have empathy but everyone’s reality is different.