The Old Saying Still Rings True

I am a mom of four wonderful children. Over the past two days I have run a few errands with my children by my side. For some reason people feel that their input and comments are wanted and unoffensive. THEY ARE WRONG!! Yesterday when Adam came home from school I took all four kids to the mall. I had Alex and Addison in the stroller, Adam was walking beside me in flip flops (not a good idea) and I was carrying Amelia. I had a plan...I was going to go in and conquer. When we were walking through the stores people would look at me and say things like "Wow, you have your hands full." The kids were doing pretty well I thought. Addison and Alex were a little restless, but they weren't going completely insane... No one was crying or screaming at the top of their lungs or running around like wild children.
Today I took Addison, Alex and Amelia to Costco for diapers (the sale started today)! I had Alex in the back of the cart, I was holding Amelia and Addison was beside me (most of the time)! When I was checking out Addison wondered over to the window to watch the pizza being made. Alex was standing up in the back of the cart with his Wii light sword and I was still holding Amelia. Addison began to self stimulate by twirling. The cashier said "I wish I could have behaved like that when I was a kid". After I paid I went over to the snack bar to get the kids hot dogs. Addison was by the cart sitting on the floor and Alex was still standing the in cart with his sword. A few ladies walked up and were standing by him, I would tell them he was fine. Then a lady came up and took his sword away from him and handed it to me. He wasn't hurting anyone...he wasn't even around anyone. Unless you were standing a foot around him he wasn't going to touch you with his sword. The final blow of this outing was as I was walking out the door. An lady looked in my cart and said a snide remark about my purchases.
I really thought we were doing well...I thought the kids were doing alright for the most part. Don't they remember the saying... Until you walk a mile in my shoes (flip flops) don't judge me.
I find it very interesting how people think that their short encounter with your family be it at a store, church or in your home gives you the true indication of what your children are like. Even more than that I think it is crazy for them to think that as a mom I haven't either tried and failed their wonderful suggestion before or never attempted to be a parent.
Let them hold Addison down to get her blood drawn every 4 weeks, and go to multiple doctor visits each week. Are they the ones functioning on little sleep from nursing Amelia the night before or trying to entertain and keep up with Alex? Did they work on homework til 9:00 pm? Do they even have children, and no dogs don't count!
Sorry for my rant...
Just when you think you are getting the hang of things people kick ya right in the stomach. I feel that I do my very best and so do my little ones...if you think that you can do better feel free to trade shoes with me, I can always use a break :)