Whispers on the Wind

I guess growing up I never ever thought that five kids was a lot. We didn't seem packed in when at home. I never sensed my mom going crazy with all of us at the store. I really didn't give it a second thought. If we lived in UT or ID we would seem like a small family or average. Even in OK I never got too many stares. Oh but I wish you could see me here in MD.

Usually I go grocery shopping when the boys are in school. Even with the two girls I get comments like "Man you have your hands full." In my mind I am thinking they have no idea. Well this week with the kids out of school it just so happens that I had to go grocery shopping with all four. I forget as I wheel that basket around with kids hanging all over it that this is not normal for this area. And boy do I get the looks. There are many kinds of looks. Curiosity, bewilderment, understanding, confusion and my favorite is the horror look. Walking into the store behind a young couple with one little baby in the basket, the woman looks back at me looks at her husband and makes a comment about can you imagine having that many kids? His answer is a laugh and no. I have to admit my kids do fairly well weaving in and out of the crowded aisles. I do tend to spend more money when I have the boys. My basket seems to grow items I don't notice till check out and by then I am just about ready to do anything to just get my stuff and go.

I love how you can tell where I have been because of the spit up puddles all over the floor. Hailey just seems to spit up a lot in those grocery carts. I do bring a rag, but after so many times it really does no good. I feel so sorry for whoever has to mop the store when I am done. I also had to stand in line for the flu shot at the grocery store. With all four, I also got more snickers than the horror look. The gentleman behind me was very helpful and help me maintain my kids a little bit. Telling them he was going to hold them down and give them a bunch of shots if they didn't be good. The older man in front of me went and got a cart so I didn't have to hold Hailey the whole time. And as you would know, I finally get to the front to just find out in MD kids under 9 can't get flu shots outside of a clinical setting. What??? All this fuss about getting your kids flu shots and you can't even get them done unless you go to the Dr.? I thought that was pretty dumb. So did Gabe, who told the guy with the clipboard just that. Usually I correct him, but I agreed with him so I let it slide.

But for the most part people are very kind and comment on how well behaved my kids are and how well I manage a brood that big in the store. I have learned to choose my battles, and I might annoy people around me but at this point I don't care. As long as I can get my stuff done and get home in one piece I feel like I have made an accomplishment.