Apparently, I have a handful...

Does anyone else have a handful? A handful of what you ask? Apparently, I have a handful of kids. Why is it that everywhere I go that is basically the first thing out of a stranger's mouth when they see me coming with my children? Wow, you must have your hands full. Boy, you sure have a handful. Is it a compliment or a put down?

I had yet to figure it out until today...at Wal-Mart of all places. On most occasions I have no problem taking G, B and L into places. It is not hard, it just takes pre-thought and organization. I had 1 errand to run this morning at Wal-Mart. I needed to return something and buy milk. I wanted to be in and out of there in 10 minutes. Wal-Mart can get you in trouble when you have a 3 year old. He wants everything he sees. So I tried to alleviate any wandering around and decided to put G in the stroller with L and put B in the Bjorn. Apparently, I must have hand my hands full with 2 kids in a stroller and 1 strapped to my body in the 100 degree heat. Before I could make it to customer service, 4 strangers said, " Wow, you must have your hands full!" I politely nodded, smiled and went about my business. In my mind, I am thinking I hate that phrase. In my opinion, it sounds rude. My children are well behaved in public 99% of the time. So why are my hands full and the lady with 1 child that is screaming for a toy or pulling things off the shelf doesn't have her hands full. But I digress...

But, while I am standing in the customer service line seething about how full my hands apparently are, an older gentlemen joins me in line and strikes up a conversation about my kids. It was your basic conversation, and then he started the dreadful phrase...Wow, you have your hands full, is what I was preparing myself to hear for the 5th time that morning. But instead that sweet gentleman made my day and said, "Wow, you have a handful of blessings!" So from today forward when some random stranger tells me I have my hands full, I will simply respond, "I sure do. I have a handful of blessings!"