[madfostermomma]

We have 4 foster kids all 5 and under - ages 5,4, 3 & almost 2 to be exact. When we go out in public, you should see the looks we get. Either they stare or people walk up to us and say " My ! You have your hands full!" I used to find it amusing, now it's annoying. Why does anyone care how many kids I have? Sometimes I think people would stare less if I walk down the street with an elephant! Does anyone else with 3+ kids get this reaction?
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Kel

[naca]

I also have 4 kiddos but mine are spaced out a bit more than yours -- 11,9, 2, 1.. I do get the 'boy you must be busy huh' alot but I'm used to it & it doesn't really bother me.. I think it's one of the givens with having a large family, people are always going to think it's their business to comment on it..

[kxl164]

My kids are almost exactly the same ages as yours and I get the looks too! And the eye rolls by those people who assume we were irresponsible for getting pregnant so often, lol!

I also get compliments too, on how well behaved all of my children given the ages and number.

No it is nobody's business, no I will not tell you how then all came into my family, I just enjoy them!

[stevenstwin]

My friend has done fostering for many years. Her daughter, when she was about 19, used to take the foster kids out to the mall or wherever - and often they were a mixed-race bunch. You would not BELIEVE the number of stares and rude comments she got, since it "appeared" that she was a very young mother with children by different fathers. She tried explaining, then she tried snappy comebacks, and finally she settled on just a sweet smile and a "thank you" - which tends to really baffle them ;-)
(anyway, there is a lady I know here in town who as 12 bio kids (oldest is 14, and mom is pregnant again) so 4 or 5 is nothing! LOL

[mrsred]

When someone says "My, you have your hands full!' tell them "Yes, I am so blessed, since idle hands are the devil's workshop".

[Lamaena]

I have to bios and our first placement was a sibling group of two, people use to stare at us all the time, they'd make comments and be flat out rude sometimes. I always think to myself, "If only they knew!"

[Sniffles]

Sorry, but I have to reply on this one. I was babysitting my 5 year old and my 3 year old step-grandchildren, I also had my 11 year old and 3 year old with me. We went to the grocery store. I got so many nasty looks, I was shocked. (of course it didn't help that all 4 look similar to each other) I also got the "Boy you sure have your hands full" comment and my response was that I was babysitting and two of them were my grandchildren. Of course that really stopped them, a 33 year old with grandchildren. ROFL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[2manyks]

its hard to get your shopping done with everyone wanting to stop you and make a comment/ my favorite comment is * i should buy you a tv*. my reply *that would be great!*

[aldes]

this reminded me of when we were foster parents & ALWAYS had at least 3 infants at a time. It didn't matter what color or size they were or how they were dressed; people only seemed to see the triple stroller & ask if they were triplets. "For Heaven's sake, LOOK at them, would you? They aren't related to each other OR to us!" For several months, we had 3 girls whom wife dressed like dolls. Bson all but disapeared & even at just 3, told us he felt invisible when we had "THE STROLLER" It was much harder on him than we realized at the time. When I see someone with a lot of kids now, I think foster care or day care before "irresponsible".

[Tudu]

We get stares every where we go. My children range between 5 and 11 so we look like we can't keep our hands off each other, LOL. People comment on birth control and ask if we figured out what causes all this. I just smile and say, "Sure do but with a husband that is as sexy and financial stable I don't need to worry about it." People also comment often on how well behaved they are, we just say thank you but one night my son said, "You should have seen us at home." He was right b/c 3 had had some fun rages before they went out.

[balletmum]

i can so relate to these posts! My 4 children are aged from 11 months to 9 years with two being caucasian and 2 Vietnamese/Chinese!! As I am caucasian and 53 years old, we sure do draw stares and comments! Some even ask if they are all mine! I just smile and tell them "Yes".

[jillned]

Yes, we get this too with a 2 1/2, 1 1/2 and 5 month old. Whenever I bring the triple stroller, it draws many stares and comments, not directly to me, but just out loud.
As a funny side note, this morning we went to the zoo and then went out to lunch. We had a nice, quiet, lunch without to many stares. Then as we are getting ready to leave, my hubby has the baby in the carrier, my 1 y/o daughter and I have my son by the hand. He manages to trip me somehow as we are leaving the table. Then he manages to do it AGAIN!! This time I had to fall over him or else I would have fallen on him. What a sight that was!! I am glad that we don't frequent this restaurant, lol.

[makarios79]

I get the same stares..I have a 7 m/o, 14 m/o, and a 2 and 1/2 year old and I am single and to top it all off I may be adding a 4 year old to the mix really soon and people mistake me for a teenager ALL THE TIME!!!!

People are always telling me I have my hands full....I tell them no I don't..I have room for many more....

[rsbg]

MrsRed, I LOVE YOUR REPLY! That is AWESOME!

[tancee]

I get the "you sure are a busy woman" and "You have double the trouble." When they see my double stroller. My bio's are 13, 11, and 9 with my AD 2 and fs 9 months. I even had someone say you look too young to have all these kids??? I'm like Thank you, I think

I use to keep two caucasian children who practicly lived with me a while. birthmom had issues. Anyways, we were out my husband, three bio's, two children and I. They were ages 7,5, 3, 3, and 9 months. The looks we got being AA with two caucasian kids in the south. We had two strollers the 3 year old boys in the double and the baby in a single. Someone asked if the boys were twins. They had to be kidding. I thought we were going to get beat up. Lol one older lady asked if I was their nanny. People were totally rude the whole time.

Now I just ignore people and their comments. Sometimes I usually can come up with a quick smart comment and they leave me alone.