Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Setting the Record Straight


 
 You would think I’d be used to all of the stares, pointing and beyond inappropriate comments by now.  It happens every time I take my children anywhere…even on their best behaved days!  I go it with “the boys” (the twins)…and once Ellie entered into the picture (or even during my pregnancy)…entering into the three under three club…it just intensified. 

 
This past week we had a spontaneous day (of which I have no pictures)… we were gone from the house from 8:00-1:00…spontaneity doesn’t usually work too well with three small children!  (I’m talking so spontaneous that I didn’t even have a diaper for Ellie!)  *enter gasp here*

 
On our third stop of the day, we went to Michael’s to get some wooden boxes for the boys to put their rock collection in.  I had two kids in  the stroller and I was wearing the other.  As we were standing in line patiently waiting to check out this lady turned to me with wide eyes and mouth dropped and said, “Oh. My. God.  You have your hands FULL!” 

 
More than slightly annoyed I turned to here, laughed, smiled and held both of my hands up on the air and said, “My hands are completely empty.  I don’t know what you’re talking about.” 

 
On our next stop (Sam’s Club) we were standing in line and this older lady comes up to me seeming a bit puzzled and asks, “Are they all YOURS?” 

 
“Yes. They are.” I said.

 “Honey, I think it’s about time for you to shut down the factory.”  She boldly told me. 

 
And there it was…I had had it…. So I smiled and politely turned away from her. 

 
For the life of me, I can’t figure out why people feel sorry for me that I have children.  The world somehow views children as a burden, a curse even. 

 
There was a time in my life, not too long ago, that I prayed to the Lord that He would bless us with children.  I wondered if I would ever know what it was like to be a biological mom of even one child.  During this process I went through a very spiritual journey understanding that God was in control of it all and if He wanted me to have a child…I would…if He didn’t…the I wouldn’t. 

 
The Bible says in Psalm 127:3 “Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.”

 
He intended for children to be a blessing and not a burden.  I’m not going to lie… being a Mommy is the single most challenging thing I’ve ever attempted in my life…and I’m thinking it’s not getting any easier…but hear this….

 
The Lord has BLESSED us with three wonderful children who add so much to our lives…three children that I wouldn’t trade for all the money in the world even on their worst of days!