The most frequent comment I get when I'm out with all six of the baby dills is, You've got your hands full!
Which is very much true. My hands are full.
Even when I only have Clover and Drummer in tow, I get that comment.
I'll try not to nit pick about such things, because I know I'm guilty. Like when I say funny and I don't really mean laugh-worthy. Sometimes I'll begin a sentence, do you know what's funny, Ryan will ask with a smirk, do you really mean funny?, even before I finish my train of thought, because I usually don't.
Just a few things that had my hands full this weekend.
So, even if it's not meant as a compliment, I'd rather have my hands full than not.
ps does anyone know what those orange flowers are? they now reseed themselves every year and I adore them, but would like to call them by their proper name instead of hollow, fuzzy stemmed beauty of a flower.
pps such a bittersweet milestone to give Drummer his first little haircut! It was long enough to make a little ponytail, but then I had to remind myself that I finally got my boy :)
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ReplyDeleteAre they gerbera daisies?
ReplyDeleteIn MN we call that Minnesota Nice, the not really saying what it is you mean.
Usually if someone hates something like fire, they'll say "mmm. that's different"
Jess--they're not gerberas. We're stumped. That's funny (in the true sense of the word ;) about Minnesota nice. Just yesterday I was wearing ombre tights and someone said to me, those are interesting nylons. hehe!
ReplyDeletehelenium? I get the hands full comment too. I just take it in stride-- people just want to say something!
ReplyDeleteYou have a wonderful pack of kiddo's. You are truly blessed to have your hands and heart full!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI hear that phrase all the time and I only have 3 girls! Although I admit I heard it more when they were little. I always just responded with "not nearly as full as my heart". It's funny to watch their faces As they think of how to respond :o).
ReplyDeletePalak--they're similar, but I don't think they're helenium. You're right, people just want to be involved :)
ReplyDeleteDebby--thank you!
Mandi--I ought to say that, too, great response :)
I used to get the 'you've got your hands full' comment all the time when Asher and Soren were younger. I've thought about it a lot and I'm grateful my hands are full and occupied with children. I'll be sad the day my hands are no longer full.
ReplyDeleteI am pretty sure your flower is called Tithonia or Mexican Sunflower. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteJessica--AMEN!
ReplyDeleteLeeAnn--thank you, thank you, thank you!! Yes, that's it!
I don't get that comment much anymore, and I kind of miss it. Now I just have one youngster, and a bunch of teens and preteens (equally fun, I must say!). Enjoy your full hands.
ReplyDeleteI used to get the "You have your hands full" or "are they all yours?", "But you look so young!" comments all the time when we lived outside of Utah. But I haven't heard any of those comments since we moved to Utah, not even once.
ReplyDeleteI've decided that maybe my clan of 5 kidlets is normal or even small by UT standards.
I do kind of miss the, "But you look so young!" comment.
I was going to say Mexican Sunflower too but it looks like someone beat me too it. :)
Jody--yes I'm enjoying full hands!
ReplyDeleteCarol--You still look young :)
I get the same comments and I only have two girls that are 21 months apart. They are 5 and 3 1/2 now. I think it's funny, and sometimes annoying. I guess it's odd to actually want children these days, here's to being odd!
ReplyDeletei get that all the time too! we had our 3 in 3 years, but i can only imagine how 6 is. i usually just smile and agree. i tell them they can help out whenever they want...funny no one has taken me up on the offer yet:)
ReplyDeletesweet photos!
They are Mexican Sunflower and I've got them in my Florida yard right now as well. Save those seeds! They are annuals.
ReplyDeleteCute haircut Drummer.
Apparently Sister Perry (of L. Tom Perry fame) used to reply to the "hands full" remark *this is all Mormon legend I am sure* by saying, "And who better." I've always loved that.
how about getting that comment when you are a "new" mom to your 6 year old grand-daughter? people don't really know how to react or what to say. i am getting a do-over and loving every minute of it and confess to chuckling over the confusion and loss of words that sometimes arise when people find out she is "ours".
ReplyDeleteI loved your tights! And the shoes were fabulous as well. You really are an amazing juggler, like I said yesterday you have the perfect baby dills. I always get excited to see how beautiful your girls will look on Sunday morning. You never fail, you must be super mom! And Drummer is getting so big!
ReplyDeleteI have five children that were all born in just under 5 years. With a set of twins on the bottom, and the rest going up in perfect stair step fashion I ALWAYS get that same comment, "you have your hands full". I heard and have learned to reply, "if you think my hands are full, you should see my heart". When said lovingly and proudly these people, who cannot fathom the type of business we live day to day, get a sense of how precious I think it is to have the family I have! (they can still shake their heads with that "don't-you-know-how-to-prevent-it!" attitude but they can know I am not ashamed or embarrased by something they find so unbelievable)
ReplyDeleteI have mixed feelings when I am given that comment, too. I also try to respond with "Ah yes, but so is my heart."
ReplyDeleteBlogful--EXCELLENT reply!
ReplyDeleteDebby-well, congratulations :)
tammy lu--thank you :) obviously you don't sit close enough ;)
LeanneO--yes, I've had that comment a few times as well, "yes, I know how it happens, isn't it fun?" ;)
I think those flowers are zinnias. I love them!! We grow them by seed here in the Seattle area!
ReplyDeleteI've gotten this comment also. A lot. I have 3. I never know how to respond to this comment. I'm happy I've been blessed with 3 and hope we will be blessed with more.
ReplyDeleteAll the positive feed back here makes me excited to respond with 'my heart is full as well'.
I've even had the comment of 'Wow, are they all yours?' I stated to the lady with a smile on my face, 'Nope, they are half my husbands!' It took her a moment to understand what I meant and then she smiled and told me to have a great day.
My husband always reminds me to kill them with kindness.
Amber--that's such a perfect response! :)
ReplyDeleteI've made this comment before and what I always mean is that I couldn't handle it because it doesn't suit my personality. So I don't think that statement is even directed at you so much as people reflecting on how they would feel in your shoes. So you could say something non-commital like, "I like being busy." Although I thought the comment about having a full heart was quite charming, too.
ReplyDeleteYou are amazing!
ReplyDeleteWe get this comment a lot, but I think that's because it's literally true. Often I'm carrying my babe on my hip, holding the hand of our preschooler and juggling a few things, too. We have four kids now, but I've been getting this comment since we had two and again, my hands were literally full. I don't take it as a compliment or a criticism, usually more of an acknowledgement feels is (usually) well intended.
ReplyDeleteOne of our daughters was adopted from Ethiopia and we used to get so many rude questions about that. Again, I don't believe people were intentionally being mean, but just didn't understand adoption well and what is appropriate and not appropriate to ask a stranger.
The one comment I have received a few times that bothers me a little is - don't you care about the environment/global warming/overpopulation? I hope to raise eco-conscious kids and I think that's what the world needs. Plus I only have three bio kids, which is hardly a huge family.
I was reading somewhere about a woman who would always respond to that statement with "Yes. Full of good things!"
ReplyDeleteI've always remembered that, because I think it's such a wise counter to the "You've got your hands full statement." I'm glad you've got your hands full. People don't see children as blessings these days! And they are! I hope my hands get full of good things one day... I mean one is plenty right now, but I hope I have lots more! :)
People are funny. I have 5 kids myself and that is, hands down, the most common thing I hear as well. Sometimes I think it would be nice if people just said what they were thinking "Geez, you got a lot of kids."
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure what the flowers are, they look somewhat like zinnias to me (zinnias come in a huge array of colors). I have only cut the bangs on my son and he's 19 months old, but there is that old wives tale that says that if you cut off the curls they wont grow back. I don't really believe that, but my baby has a full head of blonde curls and I love it!
ReplyDeleteWhen faced with that question, I usually say "yes, I do!" because honestly, some days I'm just barely hanging on! Two toddlers and a 6 year old for me - not that I'm complaining (my twin has 7 children), but we moms are not blessed with the energy of toddlers, are we?!!! :)
Hey Katy. i have 3 kids of my own, and numerous little home daycare friends, who are often mistaken as my own (which i totally take as a compliment!).
ReplyDeletei've had my share of "whoa, you have your hands full" comments, and even more outright rude comments such as (word for word, i swear!) "you know what birth control is, right?" and "you know how that happens, right?".
it is true, i do have my hands full... but my HEART is full too!
I don't think it is necessarily meant as a compliment or criticism -- just a conversation starter, something to say. Of course, I'm from the South, and we always like to make conversation. We feel a little funny if we are too close to people without chatting it up.
ReplyDeleteI have a horticulture degree and I could ID your flowers....but I need a picture of the foliage and plant. Flowers alone can be tricky.
ReplyDeleteP.S. Whenever anybody makes a random comment about your posse, translate it in your mind to "Wow, what a beautiful family!? and go on your way!
Are they zinnias? Hard to tell; there are lots of flowers similar to that.
ReplyDeleteYou've got a sweet bunch of kids, even full-handed.
My husband likes to say, "Funny... like a smell" when he's not using it to mean humorous. It makes perfect sense to me!
ReplyDeleteWhen people make that comment to me in public (and my kids are usually behaving nicely), I always think "If they only knew what my house looked like right now!"
I get that comment sometimes and I finally told one man, "I hear that all the time; I must really look like I don't know what I'm doing." I said it with a laugh, without sarcasm, and he apologized and said that it wasn't at all what he meant. But it was good to get that thought out of my head for once!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to Drummer!
ReplyDeleteisn't it 'interesting' the comments people say...i always get the 'are you pregnant?' question because i have skinny legs and a bit of a pooch at my stomach...thought that was something we woman knew NOT to ask of each other. i just smile and politely say 'no, it's from having children', and walk away feeling really down. As the sting of the comment wears off, I remind myself that even I say things I didn't really mean or came across as the wrong thing to say so I tell myself to have compassion for those who say things that are a bit harsh because maybe they didn't really mean to come across as bitey...hopefully you know what i mean. Anyway...whatever they meant it doesn't matter...what matters is your beautiful family...be proud!
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean. Sometimes I'll get verbal comments and more often than not visual cues. My response...you should see the other 4 I left at home. haha. Some believe me...
ReplyDeleteIn Hawaii around the fall season we get a similar flower in a bright yellow orange that blooms violently around the cooler areas. I suppose it's a type of wild daisy.
I agree. I had someone say to me yesterday "You're not still breastfeeding are you?!" which hurt my feelings a little. My baby is only 7 months! It's not like he is 5 years old! Then I reminded myself, the woman probably didn't mean it as harshly as it came out. Maybe she went home berating herself for that little comment like I would if I blurted something out that was a little insensitive. I think it's a good reminder for us that's it's never inappropriate to make a quick apology for something that came out a little wrong... Sometimes you feel awkward apologising but it would have meant a lot to me if she had said "sorry, I didn't mean there's anything wrong with breastfeeding a 7 month old!". Next time I make a quick comment that doesn't come out right I am going to try to apologise I think!
ReplyDeleteI get comments all the time about how my son does not look at all like me. Even had people ask if he was adopted. Yes, he is my baby, no he is not adopted. His father is Chinese. But even if he was adopted he would still be my baby.
ReplyDeleteI also get comments about the age gap between my two children, 19 years. I would have had 10 children in between my two, if my body would have let me.
I think we all need to think and be mindful of what we say to others.
http://iliska-dreams.blogspot.com.au/
Margot--I agree. A quick apology does wonders!
ReplyDeleteIliska Dreams--well said.
A friend of mine who has 2 kids (and is very satisfied and done with her two) recently put a picture on facebook of a minivan she saw with the stick figures of the family on the back window. There were 11 in the family. She was very obviously appalled. I fiddled around with replying to that...and didn't. I just don't understand why anyone believes they have the right to say that there is something wrong if my spouse and I decide to have more than 2.3 children. I have 4 children. My days are very often frazzled but hooo boy do I love them. I often get the looks and the comments as well...none as rude as the overpopulation thing. I can tell you now though. That one would light me up. God gave me these gifts so I imagine He isn't concerned with overpopulation/global warming and the like. Utterly ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteMiss Katy--you have a beautiful family!! Keep up the good work :)
As the mother of 4 (3 boys and a girl) that range in age from 6 to 7 months, I get the "You have your hands full!" comment all the time too. I never quite know that to say. So I just smile and say "Yes! I do!" Really what do you say to that?
ReplyDeletewww.sewingoursanity.blogspot.com
I got that same comment, my response has always been yes I do but it's a good full.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Le Mignon Voyageur above me--I always respond with "the very best kind of full." And I mean it. :) You have a beautiful family, and I'm so glad you share them with all of us.
ReplyDeleteThe flowers might be gerberas. But it's hard to be 100% sure without seing the foliage and stem.
ReplyDeleteYou have a great family and i love reading your blog!
A mother of 1 boy and 1 more on the way
P.S you will have to give me your "girl recipe"! You truly mastered this category and I need some guidance for #3!! ;-P
I am guilty of the hands full comment. I say it to mean - hey, I can see you have a lot going on. There is no value judgement attached. Just an acknowledgement of your busy looking life.
ReplyDeleteWhen someone says something is 'funny' I ask if they mean funny ha-ha or funny peculiar?
I get the "wow, you really have your hands full" comment all the time - especially now that we are expecting #6 - and we home school. It irritates me, but I've decided to start saying, "better full than empty!" and leave it at that. I LOVE seeing your busy family life.
ReplyDelete"...hands full! "The exact comment I got every time I was out in Connecticut with my 3 boys. We recently moved to Utah where I really don't hear that. Haha. Now that's funny (hilarious!)
ReplyDeleteI always say..."it keeps me out of trouble!" :) You're doing amazing things Katy!
ReplyDeleteI get the same comment, far too often. I only have two little ones. A 4 year old and a 3 year old. I also get the "wow you didn't waste any time did you?" comment. REALLY? How in the world do some people find THAT to be an acceptable thing to say to a mama?! I often get tons more comments when I have my nephews, nieces, or friends' kis with me. Insane. You're absolutely right though, I would much rather my hands and heart be full!
ReplyDeleteOh, the "hands full" comment!! I sometimes feel it's given as admiration/commiseration, and sometimes it is DEFINITELY more like, "Hoo boy, those kids are really out of control." ;)
ReplyDeleteOh, you have a beautiful family Katy! I know what you mean about those comments! They really get my goat! I once had a woman say, "Are they twins?" And when I replied that they were, she asked if they were too much to handle. I said something to the effect of no, and she said, "I raised twins, just you wait" as if something really horrible is around the corner and I will soon be sorry. Yikes! I had no idea how to respond, how could I possibly answer for the future? The hands full comment is also very irksome, though. I mean, since when is busy a bad thing? If I were a CEO of a huge corp. and always busy that would be good in this society? But busy with the most important things in life is a bad thing? I read an article once by John Piper, who said that he often got that "hands full" comment when he was out with his little ones, and he was always sure to say, "Yes, they are full of good things!" Because he always wanted his littles to publicly know that he considered them blessings, and not just something to "deal with" or juggle, and definitely not a nuisance. I think we all feel that way inside, but I for one am guilty of feeling the stress of the moment (especially if its a frantic one) and sometimes I might spout off with something that makes it sound like I don't think it's a good kind of handful (even if it's only in my tone). I now try to make a more conscious effort to say in front of my four, "My hands are full of many blessings".
ReplyDeleteEach time I go to the store I hear this, "my your hands are full!". Just today at costco I had a man following me with a camera taking pictures of me. Oh well, we know we are good at juggling!
ReplyDeletedrummer's hair! just in time for #1? that's almost exactly when cohen's first snip was!
ReplyDeletewas it clover's name that was almost love? are you liking the book?
You are so blessed! What a beautiful family!
ReplyDeleteWhen I am out and about with my three kids and hear, "WOW! You've got your hands full" I smile and respond, "Better full than empty, I always say." It's become so automatic that now my two oldest (six and four) say it along with me.
Torch Tithonia a Mexican Sunflower is the flower--I love them.
ReplyDeleteAs a mother of seven with 9 years between the first and last I get all kinds of those comments. My kids all look very different too and I have had people ask of they were all from the same dad. Hello?! Really?! We were at Carl Junior's once with a friend and her four kids and a couple asked if there was a party going on. Haha! Nope, we're just out for dinner was our reply. It usually leads to fun conversaitions if we keep talking to the people who made the comments. By far my favorite though was during my last pregnancy. Everytime I went out shopping someone would ask of it was my first baby and when I would tell them it was #7 the expression on their faces would make me laugh right out loud. And then I just started following that with, "yes I am old enough, no I was not a teen mother, yes they are all from the same father, the first six were planned but this one wasn't and yes I enjoy my life" because I would get those questions without fail. Sometimes it upsets me, but most of the time we get in the car and just start laughing. We have a crazy, beautiful, stressful life that gets pretty hectic at times, but I have more love in my home everyday than I could ever repay to my children. At the end of the day it is all worth it. (Sorry for the monologue!)
ReplyDeleteAs a mother of seven with 9 years between the first and last I get all kinds of those comments. My kids all look very different too and I have had people ask of they were all from the same dad. Hello?! Really?! We were at Carl Junior's once with a friend and her four kids and a couple asked if there was a party going on. Haha! Nope, we're just out for dinner was our reply. It usually leads to fun conversaitions if we keep talking to the people who made the comments. By far my favorite though was during my last pregnancy. Everytime I went out shopping someone would ask of it was my first baby and when I would tell them it was #7 the expression on their faces would make me laugh right out loud. And then I just started following that with, "yes I am old enough, no I was not a teen mother, yes they are all from the same father, the first six were planned but this one wasn't and yes I enjoy my life" because I would get those questions without fail. Sometimes it upsets me, but most of the time we get in the car and just start laughing. We have a crazy, beautiful, stressful life that gets pretty hectic at times, but I have more love in my home everyday than I could ever repay to my children. At the end of the day it is all worth it. (Sorry for the monologue!)
ReplyDeleteOne of my very favorite things about you is how carefully and craftily you chose your words. They are always delightful to read/hear.
ReplyDeleteI am guilty of saying "you really have your hands full" and before it's usually to moms with 2 or more young kids who are screaming their heads off in full tantrum mode. I was raised in Iowa and I have lived in South Carolina and Utah, and, before, I never understood why someone would want ANY children. It has taken me 8 years, but I finally understand the allure of having that many kids. Now, when I say it, I'm not saying it to be rude. Now, I'm recognizing that her hands are filled, every day, by the hands of a husband and children that love her. And there is nothing better than that. Your children are all gorgeous and happy and healthy.
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure those flowers at the end of your post are gerbera daisies. They're my very favorite type of flower, they just look so HAPPY! :)
ReplyDelete