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All Is Relative

Life is so relative. Yes, there are times at home when I feel like I have a lot of kids, but I don’t usually think too much about it.

Until I leave my bubble. Today, as we traveled from Charlotte, North Carolina to Los Angeles, the mantra of the day was “One, Two, Three, Four, Fi….”

That’s what I kept hearing over and over again. We stepped out of the airport van and before I even had both feet out of the van I heard, “One, Two, Three, Four, Fi…”

Interrupting them with a giggle in my voice, I said, “Five, Six. Yep, there are six of them.” And I exited the van to see the incredulous curb check-in guys with fingers in the air, counting my kids.

And that was just the beginning.

Yes, it’s a bit of a challenge to travel with so many, and there are many moments that make us laugh.

Just one to share today.

Josh and his mom took a few of the kids shopping for school clothes the other day. We realized, after the fact, that it was the first time in his life that Eliav was in a clothing store.

Literally.

He’s six next month. Never stepped foot in a store.

How is that possible? Well, Josh’s parents buy the kids all of their clothes and I rarely go to a store for the kids. And when I do go, I definitely don’t drag them along.

So, when they walked into the department store, Josh said that Eliav grew very quiet. He had the look of “And what the heck is this?” and “How did they find such a huge amount of clothes” on his face.”

When they picked out clothes and told Eliav that he should go try them on, he looked at them like they were crazy.

“In a room?” he asked. “But won’t other people see my underwear?”

Josh tried to explain that he would have the dressing room to himself, and Eliav went off, very tentatively.

While they were out shopping, Josh also caught Matan trying on coats and ties. Laughing, as if he were dressing up like a clown, Matan soon attracted the attention of his brothers, all of whom started getting into these “silly” clothes and prancing around. Most people in Israel don’t wear coats and ties…ever…so this was another hysterical experience to watch.

In our daily lives, the way that we live seems normal. The experiences that our children have are typical; the number of them is, in itself, run-of-the-mill. It is, therefore, a fascinating and eye-opening experience when we step out of our regular lives and see the world from the outside. Some of the experiences crack us up; others make us feel awkward and like a zoo exhibit; while still others make us appreciate many of the unique qualities that we have raising this pack of boys where and as we are.

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