Just when I thought I had it all figured out and life with two kids wasn’t looking too shabby…this happened!
And while I’m dealing with all the feelings that come with a surprise third pregnancy and a child under two, it seems it has also been an invitation to the most outrageous reactions from people. And of course, I have to tell you about it.
Sooooo, seeing those two lines appear on that stick was a shock to say the least. But honestly, now that the initial panic is wearing off papa and I couldn’t be happier. Even a bit excited. And even more so as we will be welcoming one more baby boy into our family. And we all know that papa and I make the cutest and coolest little dudes! Ha!
But while we are in fact excited, one minute making plans, discussing names and imagining life with three kids, we’re also downright terrified.
Because we never thought, in a million years, we would be planning life with three kids. In fact, we had other plans. Lots of traveling, home renovations, more free time, date nights, quiet afternoon coffee meetings with friends.
For me, personally, emotions have been all over the place since I peed on that little stick. Because there are times when I feel I am mourning a life I thought I would have and then the next day I can hardly catch my breath because I am so excited about the adventure that awaits us.
And while I’m dealing with all these emotions, I run into a friend, tell them I’m pregnant and receive an open-mouth reaction similar to one you’d expect if someone had just announced a death. After this happened one too many times, I thought it was about me. Being paranoid, hormonal, dare I say. But no. Apparently women are subjected to this type of ‘bullying’ all the time. I don’t get! Do you really care about what’s going on in my uterus? Or how many people are sleeping under my roof?
Now let’s add on to this the fact that I am expecting another boy. Here are some of the golden reactions/comments I have received regarding the gender of my third baby:
Oh no!
You poor thing!
At least tell me it’s a girl!
You know, in some countries gender selection is allowed after you have three of the same sex.
Personally, I would never wish for three boys.
I’m ashamed to admit that instead of telling them to mind their own business and since when do they have a right to express any kind of opinion on another person’s family, I have reached the point where I sometimes say ‘I don’t know’. Just to avoid a nasty comment that will often be said when Georgie is present. ‘Mama, why did that lady say that my baby brother should have been a girl?’
And then thankfully, there have been the wonderful few who have shown and expressed genuine happiness – you know who you are. They’ve talked me down from the ledge, told me I will rock at being a boy mama and that I can absolutely do this. They’ve smiled and hugged me when I tell them the news and tell me all about the wonders that come with having three children.
When I first sat down to write this pregnancy announcement, it was short, sweet and to the point. And I wanted to keep it that way but as the weeks went by and I found myself at the receiving end of comments I find highly inappropriate, I felt I had to say something. Because if even one person reading this realises how much their personal opinion about the matter of a pregnancy and/or the gender of a baby that isn’t theirs (!) can affect a woman expecting then perhaps the next time they will refrain from saying anything but a simple Congratulations.
Did people comment on your pregnancy? Tell me about it!
You can also read my blog post on gender disappointment here.
