Hands off the merchandise!

While Christmas shopping with the boys (yes, I actually made a few VERY brave ventures to the crowded shopping centers with the babes), I made some interesting discoveries. I really don't know if parents of single chidren experience what I experienced, but I found it pretty frustrating. Let me explain...

I understand that seeing two babies in a train-like double stroller can be quite a site (especially when they're super cute!). D.R. and I have gotten used to, and to be quite honest, really enjoy the oohs and aahs, as well as the fun comments we get about having two babies. This has been a fun element of having twins and makes the adventure (sometimes with a good ending, sometimes with a bad one) of taking them out in public all the more exciting. HOWEVER, just because I'm out in public with two babies does not give every Joe Schmoe the right to come and touch my babies! I am just amazed at how bold people can be.

Okay, honestly, does it bother me if you say the babies are cute? No! Does it bother me if you want to stop me and ask me questions about having twin babies? Absolutely not! Would it even bother me if you wanted to wiggle a cute little toe or pat a little baby head? No, that I can certainly allow. But, I have had stranger after stranger come and touch the boys on their faces, hands, take hats off their heads, even try to stick their fingers in my babies' mouths!! It got to the point, where I found myself racing through the mall just so I would not be stopped by curious shoppers who felt like sticking their fingers all over the babies. Am I overreacting? I hope not... is there a solution? Perhaps the three of us could wear T-shirts when we go out:

"Look, but don't touch."
"Questions are free, but it's $5 to touch a baby."
"Yes, they're twins. No, I don't know if they're identical. Yes, they're a lot of work, but a lot of fun, too. No, you can't take their hats off. No, you can't stick your fingers in their mouths. Yes, you can wiggle a toe... that's fine. Compliments welcome."

or... one I'm sure shoppers are all familiar with:

"Hands off the merchandise."

(Seriously... going out is a lot of fun... just no fingers in the mouth, okay?)