We walked in, and heads turned. We were simply stopping in for lunch, after swinging by to visit Hubs at work. Beans kept the kids somewhat contained at our table, and Mom and I walked up to the counter to order. It took us a couple of trips, walking back and forth to deliver burritos and drinks, napkins and silverware.

I think it was on the second trip back from the drink fountain that I noticed being… noticed.

First it was a table of giggling 2o year-old girls, clearly newly awake from a loooooong Saturday night out.

Then an older couple, splitting a burrito and a soda quietly in a corner.

On my third trip taking one kid or another to the bathroom, it felt like everyone was staring at me.

I checked myself– was my 20-week belly hanging out? Did I have a baby boogie smeared across my chest? Was I trailing TP from my shoe?

I returned to my table, and I mentioned it to my mother.

She laughed. “That’s because everyone in this restaurant thinks that all of these children are yours, Mrs. Duggar!“

Sure enough, looking up, I saw us the way those surrounding us were seeing us. By coincidence, the children had lined up in the circular booth in stair-step order. My ten year old niece, my 9 year old nephew, my five year old nephew, Noise, Funk, and The New Baby sat around the table enjoying an amiable lunch date. Closing out the circle, I sat away from the table, leaving room for my ever-burgeoning belly.

I don’t really know why I felt embarrassed about it– for one, I would be lucky to have such a wonderful group of kids to claim as my own. For two, seven kids really isn’t that many, and nowhere near the Duggars or Jon & Kate. And also? Who gives a crap if they all were mine? Whose business is that?

My mom got a good chuckle about the whole thing. We left the restaurant, and as we made our way down the street, I heard comments and whispers all along our route. After a bit, my family and I parted ways, and it was just Noise, Funk, and myself. We sauntered the downtown toy store, and eventually made our way to our suddenly quiet home.

And suddenly, it seemed like three kids wasn’t going to be that big of a deal at all.