The Things People Say

Now that I’m married, I am constantly surprised by how often I get asked the baby question. I think if I were a more outgoing person, the phrase would be constantly floating above my head, like a cartoon thought bubble. Thankfully, I avoid most people and have thus, avoided the question. But when my husband and I were living together before we were married, we never got that question. We got the, “so are you going to get married” question instead. Why does anyone care? To be married or not to be married, would the relationship smell any different? And what’s with everyone wanting you to conform to their ideas of a “perfect life.” I am quite happy with where I am in life, socially appropriate or not.

 

Although I shouldn’t be too surprised, since I have the tendency to ask uncomfortably personal questions myself. I limit this only to the people I feel close to, and for me, I can count the number of those people on my two hands. I try to show interest in other people’s lives, and this is my way of doing it. However, I try to make sure we are in appropriate situations, and not say, at a large gathering where someone’s grandma who can’t remember why she’s there can hear my reply. Awkward!

 

Maybe if we have kids, I will understand this drive to have other people bear offspring. But until then, everyone else should lay off the baby comments.