You know, I have been thinking lately, about how great it is to be part of a big family and how funny it is to hear the amazingly ridiculous comments people make because we are a big family. At times it really gets to me, except recently things have changed a little.
So two weeks ago we are all sitting at rather fancy restaurant where my mother and step father took my son and I for our birthdays. Mike of course was there, as was the other four kids, and my brother. So to all appearances that is one BIG family.
So we’re sitting there and eating, and we’re almost done when I feel this hand on my shoulder. I turn to look at this older woman staring back at me. She has a gentle, kind face and an extremely delicate hand on my shoulder. I feel bad but I’m just staring at her like “What?!?!” LOL
She calmly whispers, “You have a beautiful family. Take good care of each other, they are so beautiful.” And she pats my shoulder and wanders off back to her own table.
I actually sat in silence for several moments just staring at each of the beautiful kids in front of me. What I saw was one tearing bacon apart in her fingers, another was reaching halfway across the table for the salt shaker, another was trying to hold a conversation with someone at the other end of the table, and two of them were very calmly, but a bit clumsily trying to figure out which fork they were supposed to use and why the spoon was at the top of the plate.
I softly smiled, and put my hand on Mike’s leg. I looked at him and whispered I love you.
Guess what? We do have a beautiful family, and even if our kids aren’t perfect in the fanciest of restaurants, it’s ok, because when we eat at our favorite restaurant, they can be as loud as they want, they can eat with their fingers (though I am trying to break them of this), they don’t have to wonder why there is a spoon at the top of their plate, and they can be themselves…..
Our favorite restaurant is ….our own kitchen.
And how I wish I had that gentle woman’s phone number, so I could thank her for making me realize how truly blessed I am with five kids!
