We're a little different

Usually while the three oldest girls are at piano lessons, I hit the playground with the 7 youngest. I do this from time to time to test myself in areas of swiftness, reactionary skills, multitasking, and mental sanity.

So, the other day the weather was nice and after dropping off the girls at their lessons we headed over to the park.

We pull up to the playground and the place is packed. I hate when it is packed. It automatically sets me up for failure.

In my usual style, I am sporting my favorite jeans and a hoodie. My hair is not washed. I have no makeup on. As the kids pile out of the car, I can see the staring begin.

The other Moms are quaffed. They have cute hair styles and stylish clothes on. Their makeup is on. They don't have any dried spit up on their shirts.

They look good. Their kids look good.

As I look around at my brood, I realize Lulu's shirt is on inside out. She doesn't match and has two different shoes on. Ashinater has green boogies crusted to his face. McWilliam has hair sticking up all over. Kai's cradle cap has reached it's all time worst {seriously he has the crustiest baby head ever} {and of course I didn't bring a hat to cover it}. J-man has his shoes on the wrong feet. Maddie Joy and Mikie have their light sabers strapped to them using makeshift holsters {concocted from the belts of their bathrobes.}

Yeah. We look good.

But, it's okay. I mean who cares.

Who really cares that we look ridiculous. Disheveled. Crazy.

Then the whispers start. I can see them counting how many kids we have. I can see them staring at our "diversity". Little do they know three of my children are missing. Imagine the horror if I had all ten with me.

As we make our way to the playground my peeps all take off in different directions. As I try to take mental note of who went where, Kai begins crying. And of course , today of all days, I forgot my beloved sling. Before I can even start to comfort him, Ashinater has climbed to very top of the very tallest slide and is waving to me. My heart beats a little faster as my 18 month old makes a rapid descent down to the bottom. With Kai now screaming, I manage to get over to the bottom of the slide to catch my boogie encrusted little one before he makes a face plant {acing numbers one and two of my test}

Now they are pointing at me. Who knows what they are saying. I can only imagine. Do they pity me? Judge me? Wish they were me? {doubtful}.

An hour goes by and although I never joined the other Mommies on the bench to chat, I did manage to nurse Kai {discreetly} while pushing Ashinater, Lulu, and J-man on the swings {simultaneously}. You know. To test out my multitasking skills. {I always ace that part}

I also got to chase the toddlers around while they shrieked with glee. I ordered several wood chip sundae's from Lulu's shop. I kissed boo boos. I wiped boogies. I bounced the baby. I even got to see Maddie's amazing acrobatics on the monkey bars. We discovered buried treasure. Made wood chip pies. And mastered the art of getting filthy dirty.

I may not look like the other Moms. Heck, I might not even smell like the other Moms. But, I wouldn't want to trade places with the other Moms for anything.

Sure, they may have left the park with their sanity in check. {I can never seem to pass that part of the test} And they may have left without wood chips in the hair {or their teeth}, but they certainly did not get to leave with 7 of the most amazing little people in the world.