Eye of the Beholder

When I told people I was pregnant with baby #4, the most common response was, "Was this planned??"  (Other lovely responses were "You're crazy," "Glad it's you and not me," and "Are they all by the same guy?"  That last one was my personal favorite.)

Okay, just consider this your PSA: when someone tells you she's pregnant, these are NOT  appropriate, encouraging responses.

Just sayin'...

Now that sweet Elizabeth is here, I find it interesting to hear what people say.  Sometimes I get, "Wow!  You've got your hands full!"  (And that is usually when they just see the three younger ones with me.  I love telling them I have one more in school.)  However, the best is when people say,

 

"Oh, you are just so blessed."

And they really do mean it!  In this day and age some people still see children as BLESSINGS!  They even see MY children (in stores, the dr. office, our neighborhood, etc.) with their craziness and loudness and still think we're blessed.  These comments have been a challenge to me, a call for me to see myself as blessed in spite of the chaos.  Even on the days when I don't feel like Mom of the Year or on the days when the kids do everything opposite of what I think "blessings" should do.  Even on those days I am still blessed to have each child in my life and in our family.  Because, if I am completely honest, I do feel blessed, regardless of what some people may say or think.  My children may make me feel frustrated, and life may not look like I always imagined it would.  (Who knew the precious little ones I wanted so badly could make me lose my patience so quickly?)  On the other hand, I wouldn't trade the messiness of life with four young kiddos for anything!