Maiden Aunt incident #347

Walking out to the car after work one evening with a co-worker, I remarked, "It's been a long day and I can't wait to get home."

Co-worker: "You're lucky; at least you don't have to help your daughter with her homework."

Me (in my head): "Are you kidding me? I'll bet I've got ten times as much schoolwork waiting for me. That I can't tell you about and that I won't get to until after feeding the cat, emptying the dishwasher, making dinner, cleaning up, killing several pests, tracking down stuff for my move, worrying about how I'm going to move without taking any pests with me, fretting about how I'm going to pay for a new sofa and chair because I don't trust the ones I have to be pest-free. . . oh, and the kid thing? Putting aside the fact that your husband's a computer genius and you could comfortably stay home if you wanted--stop telling me how much of a burden your child is. Some people want kids very badly, myself included, even if the closest I am to having anything related to a family is wondering when I'm going to be asked out again."

Me (out loud): "Uh, I guess the schools think they're being challenging if they give a lot of homework."

I chalked it up to one of those grass-is-greener moments. It's funny how I'd rather put up with envy than pity.

Comments

Nina said…
I have soooo been there. I have a friend who is married with a two year old and she is "worried" that she is pregnant right now. All I keep thinking when I talk to her is "gee, do you have any idea what I would do, at 38, to be married and possibly pregnant? And to already have an actual, real live baby?" Grass is always greener, but if having to welcome a chid into my life turns out to be a "problem" for me I'll be ecstasy.
Kate P said…
Yeah, what's that about? I have a friend my age who's fretting the same thing--I didn't know how to respond at all! Um, I'm sorry you and your husband love each other so much??? (Joel's wife Christina put it wonderfully one time on her blog--to paraphrase, their love for each other overcame the reasons to postpone another child.)

There is NO perfect time to have kids, and nobody's EVER ready for them. . . and frankly if they *are* pregnant the poor babies don't need that "unwanted" vibe.
Mr. Bingley said…
I guess it's a combination of the grass is always greener by you and there's always that darn cloud over me...
WordGirl said…
Ohhhh, GIRL! Lemme' get this offa' my chest. (You just knew I had an anecdote for this one, didn't you?)

A friend has two kids. She tells me on a regular basis (remember -- I'm almost ready to give birth to my first child, who we had a helluva' time conceiving) how "done" she is with having children. She got an IUD implanted and everything. She says that's the "responsible" thing to do. (She's not Catholic.) She complains about all the drama around her house (that could be solved if her husband would go out and get a real job) yet lets her children scream while we're on the phone and her husband is trying to sleep. (You know: that high-pitched, puppy-popping squeal that little kids have that goes on and on and on?)

And she says all this to me IN FRONT OF HER CHILDREN. Her son is 6 months old, so he can't understand what Mommy is saying, but her daughter is almost 3. Dude, that's cruel. To them and to me.

To her children, she's pretty much saying, "Yeah, Mommy loves you but she doesn't want any more of you. Ever."

To me she's saying, "I used to want kids too, until I had them. You're a sucker."

Screw that.
Mr. Bingley said…
I had a helluva time conceiving my daughter, too...


Sorry, I know that's not what you meant but when I read your comment I had a good chuckle :)
Kate P said…
Blogger ate my comment last night (yep, that kind of week!), so I'll try to remember my main points.

First--WG, I can't judge people but I can't stand the "have one of each and you're done" proponents. Everybody's different. And frankly I think a lot of people doubt themselves as parents (thanks to their own parents' handiwork). My mom is the oldest of seven and I think she wanted more than three kids--and yet there are probably people who think my family is larger than average and wonder if my younger sister was an "accident". Whatever!

Bingley, I think you gave me the only laugh I had all day yesterday!
Mr. Bingley said…
I live to serve, Kate!
Mr. Bingley said…
And heck, I'm the 3rd of 4 and my Bride is 2nd of two, and we had a helluva time trying a bunch of times...and we have one. We would have liked more, but that's where we are (and at 44 i can guarantee that's where we are staying). You take the blessings you get. That's reads harsher than it sounds when I say it or think it, but that's how it is.
Kate P said…
I know what you mean--I'm in my early thirties and having had a relationship end badly a few years ago (and children was a main point of disagreement--to be honest I think he was afraid to have ANY and had a real problem that I hope for FIVE), and few dating prospects since, I'm beginning to face that idea of "taking the blessings you get," even if it means scaling back from five. But, you know, I'd like to get to the altar first. :)
Mr. Bingley said…
yeah, that is the vital first step, isn't it? I'm sorry that ended badly. I've seen too many "marry in haste and repent in leisure" scenarios play out amongst my acquaintances to ever advise "get married at all costs." Geesh, if there are stresses/issues before a kid arrives, well, once that little screaming poop machine shows up they magnify 100-fold...

I'm sorry; I'll stop babbling; as Elizabeth Bennet said "We all love to instruct, though we can teach only what is not worth knowing."

Popular Posts