People often ask me, “Is this your second?” To which I reply, “No, it’s my fourth.” The look of surprise is almost universal—“Ohhhh, wow. Uh…” And I can’t help but add, “Don’t worry, my condition isn’t contagious!”
Having a fourth child brings about a whirlwind of personal, sometimes awkward, and often humorous inquiries from curious strangers. Here’s a compilation of some classic remarks I’ve encountered:
- Was this baby planned?
- How old are your other kids?
- Do you stay at home with them?
- What does your partner do?
- Is this your last?
- Wow! College is going to be quite the expense!
If we were blessed with three boys or three girls, the first question would likely be, “Hoping for a girl, huh?” or “I bet your husband really wants a son!”
Let me take a moment to clarify some of the questions that have been thrown my way:
Was this baby planned? Absolutely! My husband dreams of having eight kids, but we’ve decided to settle on four.
How old are your other children? They are 6, 4, and 2 years old.
Do you stay at home with them? Yes, I do. I work from home as a writer and run my own social media business, which I absolutely adore.
What does your partner do? I’ll let him tackle that question himself. And no, he isn’t a doctor or involved in anything illegal.
Is this our last? Yes, without a doubt. My body has gone through a lot in six years, and I’m too old for this madness.
Wow! College will be fun! Never too early to start thinking about those scholarships, right?
It’s true that having four children isn’t exactly the norm these days. In fact, I can’t think of anyone else in our neighborhood with four kids. Two and three seem to be the magical numbers.
During our evening walks to the park, I can see friendly faces glancing at my growing belly, doing a quick count of our children. Usually, they smile and walk away, but sometimes they stop to chat. The same scenario plays out at places like Chick-fil-A or Target. I know that four kids can raise eyebrows and trigger questions.
I can’t judge, though! I’ve been in their shoes too. The other night, while sitting on a bench watching my kids play, my husband pointed out a large van parked in the lot. Coming from a family of seven, he gets plenty of mixed reactions when people find out.
As we watched a mom and dad with a double stroller surrounded by a swarm of kids, I couldn’t help but do a headcount. Six girls, maybe seven, with one little one hidden in the stroller.
“Wow, that’s a lot of girls!” I exclaimed. “That poor dad—imagine the weddings to plan! Do you think they kept trying for a boy?” I thought about how she looked like she could be expecting again. “No, that’s just the belly that has carried six lives.” Oh my goodness, the oldest looks about nine! Are there twins in the mix? I wonder if she stays home—she must! I bet she homeschools. That’s a nice van. What do they do for work? I can’t imagine that grocery bill! And college? Yikes. I want to talk to her so much, but then I think, “No, that might be rude. She probably feels like a freak show. I’ll just sit here, smile, and observe.”
Guilty as charged!
Currently, I’m 20 weeks along with baby number four, but this pregnancy has prepared me for the stares and comments that lie ahead. I genuinely enjoy the experience and try to keep my sense of humor intact. When speaking with other moms, I often reassure them that my condition isn’t contagious.
As an only child, I remember constantly hearing things like, “Oh, you must be so spoiled,” or “Why didn’t your parents have more kids?” I hated being an only child, and I can only imagine the comments my parents faced.
To all the moms out there, whether you have one or seven children, cherish every moment! Every child is a blessing. There are days when I wonder how my heart can possibly accommodate one more child to love. How can I manage four kids’ needs for food, care, and comfort? Will I ever reclaim my body after all this? Will I ever sleep again? But I know that the moment this last baby arrives, I will shed tears of joy and sadness, knowing this is the final chapter in my beautiful journey of pregnancy.
Summary:
Expecting your fourth child inevitably invites a barrage of questions and comments from curious onlookers. From inquiries about family planning to the challenges of raising multiple children, this experience can be both humorous and overwhelming. Embrace the joy of motherhood, as every child is a treasured gift in this chaotic yet beautiful journey.
Keyphrase: pregnancy with fourth child
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