Having six children in the 2010's seems like it is a rarity. With politics, religious views, the economy, and women wanting to establish themselves before having children, larger families are hard to come by. I guess our family is part of "The Last of the Mohicans" and fading out. So when this mama goes anywhere, yes, anywhere, you get all kinds of responses. Some are positive, a lot are negative. Some hilarious, others just get old. To me, I look at trying to find the response to these repetitive responses the most trying.
Some of the responses I get are:
Oh, you have your hands full- That I do, but so does every parent! You accustom yourself with what you have. I wouldn't expect a mom of one or two to be able to comprehend what it is like to have 4 or 5. As a mom of 6, I couldn't imagine what it is like to have 8 or more! But then you look at things too in another light, people that don't have kids but seem to have no time. Everyone has their hands full in their own way, so please just stop saying it! - it gets really annoying!
You know what causes that right? - Yes, I know what causes it! Yes, we have a tv! Multiple actually! And they work too! I guess my husband and I just LOVE each other so much!
You are stopping right? - Yes, we are stopping because I felt pressure from parents and outside sources. Although we would have welcomed more, people feel like they need to put their input in our situation and the guilt can be quite overpowering. I do have a backbone, but I think I have reached my limit having to share a joyous moment and get nothing but dismay. I think it is something that my husband and I both may regret later in life. We love our children dearly, and love that there are so many to love and see grow.
That's wonderful! Congratulations! or I like to see that! - These are the ones we like to hear! When we are having our worst of days, and someone says something like this (although they may not really be feeling it) it takes a bit of a weight off your shoulders, and that you don't have to hear the negativity when you are already feeling so down because you just woke up late, your son threw up in the car, another blew out the diaper, a shoe flew out the window, and they made your coffee wrong... it just snowballs, and does NO one any good.
5 boys and a Girl?! Oh, she is gonna fall in a lot! - has to be my favorite. Yes, from time to time, I am sure we will both be falling in, a lot! But, looks like I know who I am giving toilet cleaning duties too! This way when we do fall, we know it will be clean!
Those are just a few. I guess all I am saying is, when you run into someone who has more than you can fathom, before you open up and say something you might think is okay, Stop! Really think. What you say to complete strangers affects them too. Try being positive, even if you don't agree. It goes a long way!! You may not see how it affects some one. We have feelings too you know! ;)
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