Baby?

To have a baby or not
to have a baby: THAT is the question!   

Yeah, so this “baby thing” has been on my mind lately. It seems like everywhere I turn there’s another one popping out and the parents’ lives are changed forever.

It’s such a huge decision to make though. Once you have kids you can’t exchange them, take them back or ask for a refund. Your life will never be the same.

My personal list of pros vs. cons to having a baby is as follows:

Pros	Cons
Your family and friends will stop nagging you about when you’re going to have kids.	Your body goes through horrendous distortion that it may never recover from.
You won’t be considered to be selfish.	You are moody and hormonal for 9 months.
You will have a little bundle of joy that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.	You can no longer eat or sleep when you want to.
You will fall in love with an über cute face that loves you back.	You lose friends.
	You lose sleep.
	You lose your savings.
	You have no more spare time.
	You are always tired.
	You have puke, poo and pee to clean up all day
	You have to deal with crying.
	Your house will be trashed.
	You’ll have temper tantrums to deal with.
	You’ll soon stop being able to watch R18 rated movies.
	You can only travel during school holidays.
	Overseas trips are a dream of the past.
	School fees, stationery and uniforms will have to be bought
	You’ll be petrified that an accident happens and your child is hurt
	You have the responsibility of raising and protecting a human being.

Yikes!
Looks like my cons way outweigh the pros!

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“…I’m gonna puke!”

The pressures of the cycle of life:

*you get born,
*you spend your entire childhood wishing you were bigger/taller/older,
*you grow up and get bigger and life is good for several years,
*you are old enough to earn and spend your own money and carve your own path.

Then the pressure starts.
Every person you know asks: “so when are you going to get married?”
So you get married.

Then: “so when are you two going to have a baby?”
Fair enough, we have been married for over four years. Everyone in my generation (my sibling and cousins) have started families in relative age order and my hubby and I are finally starting to feel like we are ready, but honestly, it feels like if another person asks me when I’m going to have a baby I’m going to puke!

Why do people feel the need to ask?
Are they asking because they are just making conversation?
Are they asking because “it’s about time”?
Are they interested in me and my life or are they just damn nosy?For whichever reason, I continue find it ever more taxing to answer.

So in an effort to sidestep this very personal question I have come up with a list of potential responses.

Option 1:
Ask: “Why do you want to know?”
This may prompt them to realise that it’s a very personal matter they’re asking about and you may not wish to discuss it.

Option 2:
Say something funny like: “We still enjoy waking up late on weekends so it won’t be any time soon.”

Option 3:
Say something to put them off like: “We’re putting together our baby-sitting schedule first, are you available on Tuesdays?”

Option 4:
Just answer: “When the Lord blesses us…”
It’s plain and simple, no room for misinterpretation, no deadline has been promised and it’s not rude. An all-round great answer.

Option 5:
Another vague answer is: “when it happens, it happens”
(This is my current favourite.)

I will continue to use one or more of the above answers until everyone eventually gets tired of asking. That is, until I get those with the audacity (as if asking the baby question isn’t enough) who ask “so are you trying?”

REALLY!?!?