Now we come to the most frustrating part of my pregnancy. When people come up and ask me, in that 'oh aren't you cute' tone of voice, "Aren't you Excited!" Or "Oh, you must be so Excited!". So, yah, it isn't really a question. Even when it is a question the answer is implied. The answer has to be "Yes! This is the most exciting thing ever to happen in my entire life!" And if it isn't, then either, (A) I'm a freak, or (B) I get the lecture on how "Just wait until you give birth, it will change your entire life!" And the implied subtext "And it will be the most wonderful thing ever!"
And maybe they are right, I'm trying very hard to withhold judgment, maybe it will be the most incredible thing in my life, EVAR! But, you know, I'm not expecting it to be. Because I'm pretty in touch with myself, and I've lived with myself for the last 29+ years, and so far nothing has been the most incredible thing ever, especially not the moments that were 'supposed' to be. And I'm ok with that. I'm pretty happy with my life, honestly, I can't see it having been much better. But all of the good things that have happened have been little good things, little bricks building the texture of my life and history. Sure I bliss out occasionally, I've done the blissed-out-of-my-mind eros thing, and I've done the I've-known-you-for-10+-years-and-I-still-l
I just am. I exist. I live day by day. Things change. I will have a child. Things will change more. Maybe my values will change, maybe I will change. Probably not. The core me-ness that underlies all the superficial veneer of emotions, bouncy, grouchy, all of that hormonal stuff that float around on top, that core has been the same as long as I can remember existing. And really, most of the time the veneer is pretty thin, and the core is damn unchanging.
Sometimes I think this means that clinically I spend most of my life depressed and disconnected. But what does that really mean? I am me, and I'm pretty happy with that.
So I try to be nice to the gooshy people. To them I do not say, No! I am NOT GOD DAMN EXCITED. I know they are just trying to be nice, instead I will just say it to you. No, I am not excited, babies are an insane amount of work, of course things will change, life is about change, change is the river, I don't want to have a plan, and no, I am not a freak.
- Current Mood:centered
Comments
Have you guys thought about names yet?
I've found that focusing on a point 1000 feet behind their head works pretty well too, which is good, since I'm not really good at drooling.
Even if you're not excited, still seems like a fine thing. Go you!
Also I think you are one of the people most like me, that I somehow have the least interaction with. But it is comforting just knowing you exist. :-)
I've even had discussions about it with a bunch of other people at various times, so I think it's pretty widespread, at least among people who share our generational/educational/cultural characteristics and outlook. Of course, that's presumably a very small percentage of the entire population, so maybe you're just left back where you started :)
Missed you and J at carnival, but I guess this probably isn't the best time to be flying.