I don't know if I'll ever get used to people staring at me when I'm out in public with all three girls. I never know if I'm going to get smiles, comments, or looks of shock and awe, but I can be sure we'll attract at least a bit of attention. Today, was no exception. With the toddlers in the double stroller and Eliana in the Baby Bjorn, we were ready for some shopping. In the first store, I could feel the other shoppers' eyes on my little family. I smiled politely and kept moving. At the check-out I answered the usual questions: Yes, they're twins. They're two. She's a girl. She's two months old. Yes, all girls. Then, I confirmed that I have my hands full, because everyone feels compelled to include that in their conversation with me. Finally, I fielded my new least favorite comment: Your poor husband. Ugghhh!!!!! I know no one is trying to be offensive, so I don't get offended, but really??? He's got three healthy, happy daughters who love him to pieces. Why would anyone feel bad for him? Oh, because of the attitudes they will develop in a few years or the weddings he's expected to pay for or the drama that seems to attach itself to gaggles of girls? Sure, those will be challenges, but who said he doesn't like a challenge? Plus, why doesn't anyone ever say poor you? I don't want any, but it seems strange that he gets all the sympathy and he's not even present for the conversation. I wonder if that would change if I was shlepping around a bunch of boys.
We headed over to a sporting goods store, next. More stares. I quickly maneuvered over to the aisle I was looking for and realized I couldn't reach what I needed. Since I'm not about to shelf climb with a baby strapped to my chest, I looked for some help. Luckily, a non-vertically challenged employee was headed my way. Can you believe the first thing he said was that I had my hands full? After getting that out of the way, he grabbed what I needed and asked if I wanted any help getting to the register. I politely declined, put the item in one hand and pushed the stroller with the other (bet he didn't think I could pull that off).
At the check-out, we had my favorite encounter of the day. The young man took one look at us and said, "you're really loaded up today". That's a new one. How cute is he saying "today," by the way? It was like he couldn't even fathom that this is what my day looks like EVERYDAY.
Our third stop was pretty uneventful. I appreciated the girl at the check-out saying that she wanted a boy and girl, but if she had to choose just one, she really wants a girl. I wished her luck with that because if anyone knows how great being a mommy to girls is, it's me!
It's not always pretty when we go out in public, in all honesty, sometimes we're nothing short of a hot mess, but that's okay with me. I'd rather field the questions, fake-smile through some of the comments, and ignore the stares than feel trapped in my house.
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