Comments on: I Will Not Apologize for My Kids

By: Amanda Marsceau

Amanda Marsceau — Fri, 24 Aug 2018 15:11:28 +0000

My husband and I have 7 children ranging from 2 years to 14 years. We have been on the receiving end of both sneers and looks of amazed pleasure. My children are usually very well-behaved (especially in public), but we still come across the occasional rude person, who will either stare rudely (no smile included) or totally ignore our presence (not actually possible). Believe it or not, we encountered the most sneers and stares when we lived in South Carolina…the good old South!! We moved to South Dakota a few years ago and discovered a VERY different attitude towards families with several children. Almost always, I get pleased looks, kind comments about how wonderful it is to see so many children in one family, and pleasant reminiscences of childhood with many siblings. Almost all of these gestures are from elderly folks who likely grew up on farms. They remember the joys of fun and hard work as a family. So many people in today’s culture don’t even have/make time to enjoy one another. More people in a family = more daycare, bigger grocery bill, less vacation options, more school shopping, etc. They cannot understand our pleasure in many children and the blessings they are. They merely think of the burden it would be to them in their situations, therefore, they sneer. Maybe some are envious and bitter because their circumstances didn’t allow them a large family. How sad for them! After many years of apologizing for my children, who were doing no wrong, and being offended by many rude comments, I chose to pity those with sneers. They will never know the joy of enjoying my children. I am SO THANKFUL the Lord has allowed me to travel through this world with a wonderful husband and seven (so far) lovely children by my side!

By: Dexter

Dexter — Fri, 24 Aug 2018 14:41:42 +0000

Hi Lisa,

I’m a big TPL fan. Love your recipes and tips and tricks for Instant Pot. I recently got big husband points when I served your cauliflower au gratin recipe thank you very much! But what I like most about your videos is watching you take care of the business at hand … cooking usually … while managing a house full of kids. You make it all look so easy when we all know it isn’t. I am just plain impressed.

I often stop and take notice of someone in a grocery store, shopping with several kids “assisting” and probably stare unintentionally. I hope I am not giving the impression that I am staring with disapproval or judgment. I am just in awe of someone, like you, who has the energy, patience and courage to take on such a task.

I’ll admit that I also watch closely because when there are 4 or 5 little kids together in the grocery store, you are only a few minutes away from something funny happening. I’d hate to miss that!

This is not to say that there aren’t times when the grumpy old fart in me surfaces in the grocery store. Earlier this week in Kroger, a kid in front of me found himself on a CCTV monitor and was doing a dance performance in the middle of the aisle while watching himself on TV. When I said “excuse me”, I got the huge stink-eye from his mother, apparently because I had interrupted the cell phone conversation she was having. Yes, there are times. But most of my grumpy old fart-ness is directed at other grumpy old farts. It’s just part of being a GOF.

Thank you for everything! And keep having fun with those kids … no matter where you are!

By: Val

Val — Fri, 24 Aug 2018 12:54:36 +0000

Thank you for your article. Unfortunately this is a trend in general.
We recently went camping with our grandkids. Camping used to be such a comfortable place. WE noticed people don’t acknowledge each other. OUR generation raised our kids to not other talk to strangers. Not the reason for what you had to deal with but a small piece of the puzzle perhaps.

Love your blog and videos. Keep up the good work!