--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I remember asking my mum when I was about…" description: "\"I remember asking my mum when I was about 13, 'Why are my brothers and sister so much older than me?' And she just said, 'You were a mistake.' And I la..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b5/ricky-gervais-851_brotherhood_i-remember-asking-my-mum-when-i-was-abou_185631.png" --- # I remember asking my mum when I was about 13, 'Why are my… ![“I remember asking my mum when I was about 13, 'Why are my brothers and sister so much older than me?' And she just said, 'You were a mistake.' And I laughed.” quote by Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b5/ricky-gervais-851_brotherhood_i-remember-asking-my-mum-when-i-was-abou_185631.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b5/ricky-gervais-851_brotherhood_i-remember-asking-my-mum-when-i-was-abou_185631.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b5/ricky-gervais-851_brotherhood_i-remember-asking-my-mum-when-i-was-abou_185631.png) > “I remember asking my mum when I was about 13, 'Why are my brothers and sister so much older than me?' And she just said, 'You were a mistake.' And I laughed.” [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A child’s question about sibling age differences is answered humorously, revealing a harsh truth that is later laughed at. **In simple terms:** A mother jokingly called a child a mistake, prompting laughter. Key Takeaway Recognize humor as a coping mechanism for painful truths. Themes family humor identity birth order trauma Mood wry lighthearted Type reflective humorous When to use this quote - parenting - self‑reflection - healing - storytelling Key Concepts psychology social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How does humor help you process family pain? - What underlying feelings arise from such jokes? A Different Perspective Humor can mask deeper emotional wounds. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brotherhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brotherhood/) [Brothers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brothers/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Sister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sister/) [Sisters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sisters/) ## Related quotes > [I never thought about writing a novel until I was 13, and that happened by chance. 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We took dance lessons and put on shows at home;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-piper/once-my-sister-was-older-she-and-i-would-do-lots-of-hobbies-together/) [Katie Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-piper/) > [I always went to my sister, because she was older and had the care of me after my mother died.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-always-went-to-my-sister-because-she-was-older-and-had-the-care-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [They think that I am a lot younger than I am. Everyone who meets me is always like, “Oh, are you the youngest sister?”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haylie-duff/they-think-that-i-am-a-lot-younger-than-i-am-everyone-who-meets-me-is/) [Haylie Duff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haylie-duff/) > [My brother and sister are both older than I am and were born before my father went off to World War I.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglass-north/my-brother-and-sister-are-both-older-than-i-am-and-were-born-before/) [Douglass North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglass-north/) > [I wish I had an older sister. Not two older brothers...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-wish-i-had-an-older-sister-not-two-older-brothers/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's cool cause my sister is older than me and we went to the same high school, so by the time I got to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zooey-deschanel/it-s-cool-cause-my-sister-is-older-than-me-and-we-went-to-the-same/) [Zooey Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zooey-deschanel/) > [My brother and sister were much older. They were planned. I was not planned for. 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Her brothers' sister, her father's daughter, Her husband's wife, her children's mother”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-elliott/what-is-a-woman-her-brothers-sister-her-father-s-daughter-her-husband/) [David Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-elliott/) ## More by Ricky Gervais > [I was David Bowie-thin up to about 28, and then I discovered food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/i-was-david-bowie-thin-up-to-about-28-and-then-i-discovered-food/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [I don't like it when I see a racist comedian go up and say, 'What are we gonna do about all these immigrants?' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/i-don-t-like-it-when-i-see-a-racist-comedian-go-up-and-say-what-are/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [The truth doesn't hurt. Whatever it is, it doesn't hurt. 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There always has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/i-am-myself-sometimes-and-i-do-state-my-opinions-but-not-in-a-comedy/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [Wearing cosmetics that were tested on animals makes you ugly on the inside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/wearing-cosmetics-that-were-tested-on-animals-makes-you-ugly-on-the/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [There's a difference between a job and a career - if you're the boss you don't stop at six o'clock, you have to worry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/there-s-a-difference-between-a-job-and-a-career-if-you-re-the-boss/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [Stupidity without malice isn't horrible; some people can't help it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/stupidity-without-malice-isn-t-horrible-some-people-can-t-help-it/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [It's interesting that music in this country... we sort of sold something to America with The Beatles and they sold something back. 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Tom Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-tom-perry/) > [Brothers all In honour, as in one community, Scholars and gentlemen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/brothers-all-in-honour-as-in-one-community-scholars-and-gentlemen/) [William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/) > [This is me and my older brother alasandro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brother/this-is-me-and-my-older-brother-alasandro/) Brother > [You may call for peace as loudly as you wish, but where there is no brotherhood there can in the end be no peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lerner/you-may-call-for-peace-as-loudly-as-you-wish-but-where-there-is-no/) [Max Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lerner/) > [Forgiving the men who killed my parents and brother was a process, a journey into deeper and deeper prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immaculee-ilibagiza/forgiving-the-men-who-killed-my-parents-and-brother-was-a-process-a/) [Immaculee Ilibagiza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immaculee-ilibagiza/) > [Overall, we had about 50 meetings where the brothers would say that I couldn't do any solo records, I couldn't write for other people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-hagar/overall-we-had-about-50-meetings-where-the-brothers-would-say-that-i/) [Sammy Hagar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-hagar/) > [Please be slow to judge ‘brothers’ who have a different calling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-foreman/please-be-slow-to-judge-brothers-who-have-a-different-calling/) [Jon Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-foreman/) > [My brothers and I would try to talk our dad into letting us stay up and watch 'Star Trek.' 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