Every once in a while, someone asks this question in real life or online. “Do you really have ten kids?” Sometimes, it requires a response other than yes.
Today, I answer.
20) I’m not sure. I stopped counting.
19) I rounded down.
18) No one makes up that number.
17) I made up that number. I’m very desperate for attention.
16) Some of these people may have just shown up. They do the dishes, so they can stay.
15) Do you want to come over and count?
14) My husband has them too.
13) Well, some of them are adults now.
12) Why don’t you believe me?
11) I’ll get back to you.
10) I just know there are no empty seats in my car.
9) Grocery bill implies this to be so.
8) Considering our family football team has a sub…
7) We have an A and B baskeball team. I’m on the bench.
6) Our baseball team has a starting nine, a starting pitcher and two relievers. I’m still on the bench.
5) By the number of shoes, I have more than 30.
4) By the number of matching socks, I have three. One has to wear tube socks from circa 2003.
3) Nine months of the year, we get cake –so there is birthday evidence.
2) No, but at this point, the joke’s gotten out of hand and I can’t stop.
1) I actually had fifty answers to this question, but after ten kids, didn’t want to belabor the point.
When people ask this question, it’s really more indicative of wanting to ask why in this day and age, anyone would do such a thing. The reality is, as my husband observed, “it is no sacrifice to be surrounded by people to love.” It is a great gift we’ve received. So do we really? Yes…we do really, and it’s more of a gift than words can explain, as impossible as living out that reality might seem in the day to day –and some days it does overwhelm. However, it is always, and always was, and always will be, the greatest gift my husband and I have been given. So yes, really, we have been given these ten to love.
Will post a photo once I convince all my darlings to sit still for a shot.
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