October 26, 2006
Getting Around
Getting Around
Yesterday I made my first solo venture out of the house with all the kidlets. Where would one go for such a momentous occasion? Home Depot. I didn't need a bunch of things and there is very little that the kids want me to buy there, so it seemed like a decent place to test the waters. All went well, but I sure wish they offered to carry out my bags like my favorite grocery store does.
When we all pile out of the car these days, I sense somewhere in the middle of it all that I am the driver of a clown car. People keep coming out long after you expect them to stop.
For the most part, people are very nice to me and my horde (whether a horde of three or four) when we do go out of the house. A lady let me go in front of her in line. A man offered to put my cart in the cart return for me. It may mean I look tired and desperate, but I take the help. Once in a while, I garner looks of sympathy and comments about having my hands full, but usually they are well meaning and often accompanied by a statement that the speaker had 4 or more kids themselves and they remember the strategic planning required to leave home with them all and return with the same number.
I'm glad therefore that I live where I do. Most people in Tennessee, I dare say do not, any longer, have large families with four or more children, but very few seem to think it shocking. Apparently some places this isn't such an acceptable lifestyle choice.
Wow, that is some article. LOL.
I love this line. "The Gap is a ridiculously trendy apparel company that caters to young people, and adults who want to dress like young people."
Hm. Guilty as charged. [raising right hand] ;-)
Posted by: dcrmom at October 26, 2006 10:34 AMInteresting.
Posted by: Jack at October 26, 2006 02:29 PMCLown car is the perfect description. I often feel that way.
Four or more children is shocking where I live too. Most people have two and an equal number have three as have one. I know one person with four. I can't think of a single person I know personally who has more than four.
Posted by: chris at October 26, 2006 06:50 PMFour does seem to be the break point. Admittedly I only had three children for nine minutes, but when I have three or fewer in tow we are somewhat anonymous. Throw in number four, then I get the comments. Of course I have the added bonus of having twins that don't even look related to each other.
Posted by: Sarah G. at October 26, 2006 07:24 PMIn the south, at least in the suburban south, three or more kids is the new trend. It does not seem as much a "religion" thing (although I'm sure that plays into it) as a cultural trend. My daughter's godparents have both of their daughters currently expecting babies 3 and 4 and neither of them are influenced by religious reasons & the only other cousin in our family (married to a wealthy businessman in SC) has four kids and wants more - and they don't attend church at all. It just seems to be the new trend in this part of the country. I have a good friend who started the "only two kids" club with the only other mother in her neighborhood with two kids and she called me last week to say that she is now the lone member of the club.
In our married with kids Sunday school class, my husband and I are literally the only couple with two kids that are "done". There are as many families with four or five as there are with three - and there are numerous families with three or more under the age of 5 - families that are planning to just keep having children and that I expect will be quite large.
It's weird to think that there are places where this is unusual. It appears that family size in this country is increasing dramatically.
Posted by: jurskis at October 27, 2006 05:17 AMWell, congratulations on a successful outing! I get the "you've got your hands full" all the time with just my two, and as you say, it's all well-meaning and doesn't bother me a bit.
I enjoyed that article too! Thanks for the link =]
Posted by: Lenise at October 30, 2006 09:41 AM
Jordana Adams, Chief Pontificator