Three kids and counting. Maybe we will have more, maybe not...time will tell. That said, three kids shouldn't keep you from going places. I'm talking about every day places, not just the occasional vacation.
Yes, I understand that three children four and under is a lot. I get it that many families are content with the 1.5 children average in America. Honestly, some days I feel like I'm raising an army, and other days three kids aren't enough and I want to adopt three more, foster a couple, and have four more of my own.
When we go out, it goes a little like this:
Me: We're going somewhere today!
Kid 1: Yaaaaay (insert wild, naked dancing and refusal to wear any attire appropriate for where we are headed)!
Kid 2: Immediate tantrum. Refuses to wear socks, eat, put on shoes, or even play with play doh.
Kid 3: Is starving. Needs milk NOW. Loud crying with huge tears.
Me: sighs, nurses baby, compromises on clothing, let's toddler forego shoes, loads car by promising inordinate amounts of non-organic snack food at wherever we are headed.
Kids 1 and 2: Destroy back of van by shredding every peice of paper, Styrofoam cup, and coloring book they can find.
Kid 3: falls asleep as I open the van door to retrieve him and cries so loudly while I put him in the carrier that four different people come over to check on him.
Don't worry, we make it to where we are headed. Then the comments begin to roll in.
Nice Older Lady: Wow! You have your hands full!
Me: (Looking at my empty hands, two kids in the shopping cart, and baby on my back) Not exactly, but they are a lively bunch.
NOL: (frowns) Yeah.
Store Manager: Would your boys like a banana? I bet they eat you out of house and home!
Me: Thanks sir, just keeping you in business.
Random Person: (glancing at my 6 months post partum gut) You're not having another one, right?!?!?!
Me: Why not? Kids are a blessing!
Random Person: Looks disgusted, walks away.
Middle Aged Guy: (chuckle) You know what causes that, right?
Me: (no comment, but really want to ask him to elaborate)
Cashier: (irritated look, waves her hand at my 2 year old trying to hand her items to ring up) I don't need any help!
Me: (In shock, near tears) Please don't hand her anything, son. (Goes to different check out)
I could go on and on and on. People get weird when you begin bringing your (not so) large family out in public. It can be frustrating for me, and for my kids. However, I refuse to let it intimidate me. I won't stay home and hide my treasures. We go. Probably 4-5 days a week we go out in our community. Story time (that gets tough when one is pulling books off the shelves, one wants to nurse, and one is socializing), the lake, the pool, the store, homeschool co-op, farmer's markets, musuems, etc.
Yes, they are young. Yes, I get stressed. Yes, people make rude comments.
Yes, some people smile and compliment me and the boys. Yes, some people are helpful and sweet. Yes, my boys are learning manners, social interactions, how to handle themselves in public, how to handle stress, how to be respectful, how to be generous, how to be loving, how to have fun, how to be kind, how to have grace....and so much more.
Life doesn't stop because we are a growing family. My boys desperately need interaction with others, with our community. They need to learn how to interact with people of all ages, how to obey and be safe in various settings, how to help one another and me when we are busy.
So, we will keep going places. We will keep hearing the wild comments. We will keep accepting help when offered and smiling and acknowledging that this little growing family is a blessing from the Lord and nothing to hide or keep us at home.
So, sweet mamas with one or seven children. Go do things. As you are able. When you can. Keep your head up and enjoy the humor in life as the comments roll in. Offer grace to those that don't know any better. Show your littles how wonderful it is to be a family and how to have joy in it all.
Wholly Mom,
