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Inner dilemma.

January 28, 2015 by Adrienne

I was in the grocery store with just Ellie. She was on my back in my carrier, and hamming it up for the lady behind us in the checkout. The lady commented.

“She’s so happy! None of mine were shy either.”

I agreed. Ellie was super happy. She always is when I wear her.

The lady went one. “I had four kids. They didn’t have a chance to be shy!”

I bit my tongue. No one knows. They all think I’m normal. They all think I have one pretty little daughter. They may all think I am carrying her sibling because of the 7-kids-postpartum baby belly I also have… but they think I’m normal. Say nothing, girl. Don’t do it. They just think Ellie and I really like milk, since I’m buying six gallons. Those eight heads of cauliflower? It was on sale for fifty nine cents each. It’ll freeze. It won’t make it to frozen around here, but they don’t know that.

I couldn’t stop myself. “She doesn’t have much of a chance, either, I suppose. She’s my seventh.”

The lady stared. I looked away and pretended I was normal and the groceries needed reorganizing on the conveyor belt. What was taking the checker so long? She muttered. I don’t want to know.

“Well… you don’t look like you’ve had seven kids,” she finally responded.

I cringed. What does that really mean? I’m not that fat? I don’t have quite enough wrinkles? My gray hairs haven’t completely taken over?

Next time, self, just shut your mouth. Don’t say it. Just pretend you’re the happy go lucky, “I have one baby, isn’t she cute?” kind of mom.

It’s simpler that way.

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Pickles, baking soda, birthdays, and week long work trips. →

Filed Under: Life

About Adrienne

A homeschooling mother of ten, ages 19 and under, I chronicle life, laughs, struggles, and lessons learned as I raise a larger-than-most sized family and try to laugh about the craziness.

Comments

  1. Charlotte Moore says

    January 28, 2015 at 6:11 pm

    HAHAHAHA!!!! You have a lot to be proud of.

  2. Jessica says

    January 29, 2015 at 2:40 am

    Don’t do it! :). Don’t bite your tongue. It’s WONDERFUL that she’s your seventh. Who cares what strangers think. (Easy for me to say, since I only have two so far.)

  3. Jen Quick says

    January 29, 2015 at 9:47 am

    I only have 4 & people act like I have a lot of kids…….I can only imagine what they would say if I said 7 🙂

  4. Roxanne says

    January 29, 2015 at 10:55 am

    I agree with Jessica. Your children are God given and you certainly don’t need to be ashamed of your many wonderful little people. How people respond is their problem, not yours.

    • liz says

      February 12, 2015 at 6:37 pm

      yes yes yes!!! people are rude..imagine having 5…..and they are all adopted….and multiple ethnicities….not a chance to be “typical” and i don’t care 🙂

  5. Laura says

    January 30, 2015 at 1:14 am

    Or you could say she’s your 12th.

    • liz says

      February 12, 2015 at 6:38 pm

      I always joke to my husband if i led with “i have 12” than 5 wouldn’t sound like so many..lol

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