Family.
It’s been quite a week.
Back to work. Which is good – I’m enjoying it, but at the same time, I am exhausted at the end of each day. Although I basically woke up at the save time (6:30) all Summer, I could nap if I needed to – now I’m in bed by 8:30 because I’m so tired. My voice is hoarse. I’m not used to talking all day anymore. It’s like this at the beginning of every school year.
Other observations: On the first day I was telling my grade 7 students about myself as a little introduction. I asked if there were any questions. One of the boys raised his hand. “Do you have any kids?” bang. Ow. My heart. “No, no kids.” “Don’t you want any?” How do you answer that?
Number of pregnancy announcements on my Facebook friends list in the past two weeks: Seven.
Number of pregnant coworkers: Two.
Number of people I told about my infertility and who said either “You can have one of mine, ha ha” or “You’re lucky, you don’t have to worry about college funds or anything” or “I just KNOW it will happen for you! Don’t worry!”: Three (one of each!)
Number of times I’ve felt incredibly petty and jealous and small because of my feelings when these things happen: Innumerable.
I was on the way home from work the other day, listening to CBC Radio. They were interviewing the creators of a new magazine for people in my province, called “Island Family”. Tagline “For all families!” It is geared exclusively toward people with children/teenagers. And it made me think: Does this mean that my husband and I, because we don’t and can’t have kids, are not considered to be a family? Wow. I always thought that we were.
September 11th, 2009 saat: 3:14 pm
Aw, Louise. I am sorry people can be such unthinking, unknowing idiots. Thank you for teaching me to be more kind and thoughtful in these situations.
p.s. I have not forgotten your Cherry Coke. Now that I’m actually home for more than a day and all my company is gone, I’ll be sending it soon.
September 13th, 2009 saat: 9:11 am
Okay some of those comments, that you’ve gotten, are just… Gah! I’m sorry people are so thoughtless.
Also – family is not defined by if you do or do not have kids. It’s just not. And family isn’t defined by people you are related to by blood. I think about this a lot given the fact that I still can’t get married (at least not in my own state) and we can’t adopt (in most states) and if she has kids will they be mine too? No. Not in the eyes of the law… people’s definition of ‘family’ is so small.
September 14th, 2009 saat: 7:03 pm
I have a work family. I have my family I grew up with, you know…the ones who are actually related to me. I have my friend family.
Family is as much about what is in your heart as it is who you are actually (blood) related to. You absolutely have a family. And it sounds like a fabulous one at that.
I’m sorry people can make such dumb comments.