The things people say...

We have a big family, I get that. It's not that I'm unaware, it's just my norm.


I usually don't have to take all the kids with me when I am running around. I make plans to shop late at night when Corey is available, when my older kids are home to help and I shop on-line as much as I can.


But, sometimes, we are all out and about, the entire fam damily. People don't even try to hide their amazement at our numbers. They stare, very obviously (and loudly) count the kids, we have been glared at, and the comments...oh, the comments...


Don't get me wrong, it's not like I've never wished for a rewind button for my mouth. There have been times when I would have given my right arm to just rewind myself and been able to push the mute button. And my kids, especially one in particular, regularly opens up his mouth and vomits out any thoughts that he is currently having. I am hoping that old age will take over and I will someday be able to forget some of the things that he has said.

But anywhoo, I digress...


I had a conversation with a cashier at the grocery store last week, when purchasing milk for the week.

Cashier-(upon seeing the milk) "Eight gallons of milk?! Hope that lasts you awhile!"

Me-"Should last about a week"

Cashier-"Wow! How many kids do you have?"

Me-"Nine"

Cashier-"Nine kids? What did you do?"

Me-Ummm....(Thinking to myself, "What did we do? Is he seriously asking me that? What do I say, isn't that obvious? Do I have to explain the birds and the bees?)

Uncomfortable silence follows....I think he realized what he had asked me because he wouldn't make eye contact after that. Either he was embarrassed or he gave himself a mental image that made him want to pour bleach in his ears in an attempt to erase it from his brain.

Other things that are said to us-


"You have your hands full"

"Are they all yours?"
-I love it when I have at least one daycare kiddo with me when asked this. I reply "oh no (like ya right), only nine are mine." Not nice, but really funny! You should see the looks of relief and then confusion that run across their faces.

"You deserve a medal"
-Just a medal? More like a long vacation on a deserted (quiet) island, a life-long membership to the shoe of the week month club, or a strait jacket. Maybe all 3?

"Don't you know what causes that?"
-I have seriously been asked that so many times that I can't even muster up a weak laugh just to be polite.

"Glad it's you and not me"
-Corey hates this comment that we have received many times. It really burns his butt. He always answers "So am I." And he does it in a way that the other person knows that he is pissed.

"I feel sorry for you"
-This one ticks me off the most. I try not to let the smoke flow from my ears and attempt to look confused. I ask "Why? I'm not sorry, I adore my big family" Jerks.

We love our big family, we did this on purpose, we wanted ALL of these kids.

And we always will...