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!
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Just wait until they ask if you are a kindergarten class!!!! ha ha hah a!!!! Yup, someone asked that. Or if you are a daycare!! And it doesn't get any better when your children are school age and they say, "Shouldn't your children be in school?" And I say, "Why yes, yes they ARE in school. Right now!" Sad to say, it doesn't get any better as they get older. In fact, it gets worse. Much worse. You may as well hear the whole horrid truth. But you know what? I love it. It gives me a chance to remind people how much God has blessed us. When I tell them that, they shut their mouths and hastily agree with me, regretting that they boldly, or by implication, were saying I have TOO many children!! Now, I look forward to having someone say something. At SAM's, when I go by myself, the greeters are disappointed not to see our children. And the places where they know our children? Oh, they are all too glad to have us because they know they behave. Your children could be a testimony of great parenting and people are only shocked because they don't notice until they actually "see" what is there. They don't have to hear or be shocked by naughty behavior which is what they are used to. Our dentist loves for us to come in for check ups because apparently (I have never heard it myself) his adult patients comment all the time at how well behaved our children are. I guess I am sadisitic. I take great delight in hearing other people's shock and surprise at our "gang"!! It gives me the opportunity to witness to them and tell them what God has done for us. The old couple with young children!! :) Phil. 4:4
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