To the women sitting behind us at Z'Tejas at Fashion Square Mall

Good evening ladies!

As the manager/host at the restaurant kindly sat my friend and I and our four kids (Noah, Jillian, and the the twins). I saw the scowl on your faces. It was a look that said "Oh sweet Jesus in heaven, tell me we are NOT being seating next to four kids. Three of whom we think belong to the same mother and two of whom are infants."

I know that look. TRUST ME, I've seen it before. And the thoughts running through your mind at the same time are not original or particularly shocking or original at this point. I saw the same look on the ultrasound lady's face when I had to take all three kids with me to Hannah's doctor appointment last week. And I see the same look whenever I am out in public with the monster double stroller. I am well aware that we are walking birth control.

That said, I appreciated it when you stopped by the table on your way out to compliment my friend and our well-behaved children.

What my friend and I did NOT appreciate was when you told us that you almost switched tables when we were seated. . . so that you didn't have to be near us and our children.

I am sure you didn't want four kids ruining your cornbread and tortilla soup experience. What you don't know is that the LAST thing I want is for any of my children to be rude or disrespectful in a restaurant. Dining out is a pleasurable experience for me. But it's also work. Because while I want to enjoy myself, I really don't want it to be at the expense of others. So I work hard to make sure my son stays in his seat, isn't too loud and is unfailingly polite. It doesn't always work, but I try.

I don't want to sit near loud or obnoxious kids either. But I have just as much right to go out to eat as you do. Suck it up and cut me a little slack, ladies.

Cheers!