1,2,3,4,5…

My wife and I have 7 kids.  I know…seven!  I have been reminded of this reality recently by lots of strangers.  Lots of strangers…people who I do not know…people I have never met.  These reminders have typically taken place in restaurants though it happens in stores, at church, and at ball fields as well.

Usually these strangers remind me of the number of children I have by showing me they know how to count…..out loud.  Literally.

Counting.

My kids.

Out loud.

At restaurants.

Out loud.

Am I the only one who thinks this type of behavior is odd, even absurd?  I had to help someone finish counting recently as she couldn’t see two of the smaller children.  Just this week I found myself joining in the counting as I heard a man counting my children as we walked by. …4, 5, 6, 7.

I offer a couple of thoughts in light of this bizarre behavior:

I am comforted in knowing that so many adults can count to 7 in public and loud enough for others to hear them.  I was beginning to lose faith that we were still teaching people the basic math skills that my children learned within their first few years of life.  Though I am concerned that some may not know how to count to 10 so, if it is the Lord’s will, we might have to shoot for double digit number of children.

You would think that my children were misbehaving or that our family was making a scene when these episodes of public counting occurred.  Nope. We are usually just going about our business eating and chatting or engaging in the “loud” behavior of walking towards a door (please note sarcasm).  We are blessed to have children who know (typically) how to behave in public settings, which includes not counting other people out loud.

All of my attempts of humor/sarcasm aside - why are we treated as such a spectacle by grown adults in public places?  The irony is so rich when one thinks about the current culture in which we live.  Think of all the fascinating people who call attention to themselves in such damaging, unnatural and unhealthy ways and WE are the ones that people gasp at (and count) when they encounter us.

Of course this has to do with how society views children and the “burden” that they are seen to be for individuals and couples.  They get in the way of how one wants to spend their time or money.  One or two are okay but anything more than that and you have to be crazy.

My wife and I are fairly rational people who have been blessed with 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 miracles of life (and one in heaven).  We believe that we are living out God’s will for our lives and this has been confirmed over and over again during our first 11 years of marriage.  I couldn’t imagine my life minus any of my children - Michael, Mariana, John Paul, Therese, Julia, Chiara and Celeste.  All miracles of life. All children of God. All bring joy into our lives and into the world.

Yes, they require a tremendous amount of sacrifice (especially for my wife).  Yes, we don’t always get to spend money on what “we” want. Yes, they alter our schedule - a lot - especially when trying to sleep (or during baseball season).  Yes, they give us 7 amazing reasons each day to praise God for His goodness and faithfulness to us.

So, when I encounter adults who spiral out of control and begin counting at the sight of my children I smile, begin counting along and thank God for the gift of life - all lives. Yes, even the lives of those who count out loud at restaurants.


Author's Note: We now have 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 miracles of life. Timothy wasn't born yet when the original post was written.