Five Kids!

I wasn't sure how to approach this subject, its on a more serious note this time. I've thought about this so many times, but as I contemplated what to blog about this time, this is the only subject that kept coming into my thoughts.  I don't blog daily, just because when I do blog, I want it to really come from my heart and not something I have to force out.

While on vacation last week, we experienced the best of everything. I mean, come on, traveling with one child is amazing.....less money, smaller rooms, no fighting between siblings, you get it. Its nice and quiet.

We were watching Noah swim in a hotel pool on our last night, and the pool area was CrAzY! Each family had at least 3-4 kids, and they were all screaming. The acoustics were nuts, the pool chlorine was blinding, and it was just "yuck."
Mac and I sat there giving each other that "get me outta here" look.
But, as a parent, you sacrifice so your kid has a good time. Noah gets it, he gets us, and said he was about done. Wink. wink.

A lady approached me and said, "you really have it easy!" This isn't the first time parents have said this to me. I never know what to say. Sometimes my mood is just looking for a release and I let them have it. Other times I just say, "yes, I do."

This brings me to my subject. Why are they looking at me and judging me because I have only one child with me at this particular time? Do strangers know me? Do you really know me? There was a time I had 3 children under the age of 6, and one of them was battling a terminal disease. I was driving every single day to Madison for chemo treatments, radiation treatments, and trying to hold it together for the other two. I have flashbacks of pulling my three little ones in one red wagon around the 4-mile block! I have no idea how I did that, its hard enough now doing it alone! lol

Mac and I also lost a baby due to a tubal pregnancy. So do I say to these unaware people, listen....I have 5 children. And then have to explain to them my life history? No.

I was getting a pedicure a few days ago, and an older lady was sitting next to me and we started talking. She was saying how wonderful it was to be out. As we divulged more into our lives, she said she was getting ready to have her 2nd round of chemo. Which, as I know, will leave her in the house for days avoiding any type of germs, because her immune system is shot.  I then told her about Thomas and she was so heartbroken for my loss. But really, I was just as heartbroken for her. She said to me, ya know, people have no idea what each other has been through. This brought me back to my own thoughts. She said her life has really been humbled and changed due to her diagnosis. Gosh, do I get this!

So, what's my point? Look around you. Look at all the people you don't know anything about, yet you're making judgement's about them. There is always someone out there who has it a little rougher, if not a lot rougher. So give people a break. Smile. Your smile might be just what they need at that particular moment.