Should a mother of four kids go out in public?

  My friends who are out in public with me have commented on how much we are stopped by other people.  Where ever we go, people have something to say about "my situation".  Some people are friendly, some are curious, some state the truth, some laugh, some have pity, some want to chat, some want to hold the baby, some want to give me advice, some just smile and others just stare.  The reality of the Cherry family is that we are different.  We are white and we have a baby who has different skin color.  We are considered a "large" family, because we have more than the average 2.5 children.  We are all blond hair and blue eyes.  Our new little addition is brown hair, brown eyes.  So wherever we go, people want to know more. So I thought it would be funny to write down all the comments or questions that I get  from people when I am in public with all 4 of my kids.

• "Wow!!!!...You sure have your hands full"!!!  (As I walk through  the grocery store, with three kids holding onto the cart and a baby riding up front.)  My Reply~"Yep"!  (As I keep walking.)

• "Are ALL those kids yours"???  (While all my kids are trying to talk at the same time and get my attention.)  My reply~"Yep"! (As I keep walking.)

• "Is that YOUR baby"??? (As they stare at Avalon's obvious skin color difference.)  My reply~"Yep"!  (As I keep walking.)

• "Somebody sure needs a nap"!!! (As Avalon is crying in the car seat, while I am ordering a cup of coffee in the drive-thru.)  My reply~"Yep"!  (As I keep ordering.)

• "So what made you decide to have another baby"???  My reply~ "God." (As I explain why we chose to adopt.  Usually this one takes up a lot of time, so I can't keep walking.)

• "How come your kids aren't in school"??? (As I do my errands during school hours)  My reply~"I home school." (As  I try to keep walking, a whole set of new questions come, and I stop to explain.)

• "I sure am glad all my kids are grown up"!  My reply~smile and nod.

• "How in the world do you shop with 4 kids"?  My reply~smile and keep walking.

• "I bet you go to bed early every night".  My reply~smile, nod and keep walking.

• "Are you a foster parent"????  My reply~"She's adopted." (smile and keep walking).

• "Wow!!! You sure are a busy mom"!!!  My reply~"Yep". (smile and keep walking)

• "You have a black baby"!!!  (usually this one is from a little kid who isn't afraid to tell the obvious truth.  lol!)  My reply~"Yep". (smile and keep walking)

So I am in the learning process.  I am eight months into how to appropriately reply to comments or questions while out in public.  Most of the time, I smile and keep walking.  But then there are times where I stop to talk.  It is my children who don't understand it.  They just want to shop, go, play.  They ask me everyday, "Mom, why does everyone always ask about Avalon?  Why do they want to stop and talk so much?  How come people have so many questions they ask you?"  My reply~"God knew that baby Avalon was going to be in our family from the beginning.  He created all of our skin colors.  He wanted her to be with us.  We will never understand why God does what he does.  We will never comprehend His ways.  What we do know is that God put each of you kids with your dad and me.  People see that Avalon is different, they want to know who she is.  People want to know why we have four kids.  People want to know why we home school.  People are trying to figure us out.  And most people don't understand how much of a blessing children really are"!  So, everyday as I venture out into the great big world full of people's opinions, I ask God to help me know the right way to handle it.  I think that most people view children as a burden and getting in their way.  I think it is so sad that we live in a time, where children are forgotten and ignored.  God help me to appreciate the lives He placed under my care.  May I never believe the lie that children are not special. 

My reply~ "I have four kids. I homeschool.  I do life with my kids. I go out in public and I am not afraid of critical minds!  I will embrace "my situation" with gladness"!
"Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward..."