Life Without Baby

filling the silence in the motherhood discussion

Whiny Wednesday: “Netflix, You Don’t Know Me At All”

Whiny_WednesdayLast week I hopped on Netflix after something of a hiatus. I was in the mood for a movie, but had nothing in mind, so I was delighted to see that Netflix had come up with a “Top Ten Suggestions” for me. This is what they thought I would like to watch:

Friends with Kids

(Synopses courtesy of IMDb): “Two best friends decide to have a child together while keeping their relationship platonic, so they can avoid the toll kids can take on romantic relationships.”

The Pill

“Worried that he has gotten the free-spirited Mindy pregnant after an unprotected one-night stand, Fred feigns romantic interest and sticks by her side for twelve hours to make sure she takes both doses of the morning-after pill.”

The Switch

“Seven years after the fact, a man comes to the realization that he was the sperm donor for his best friend’s boy.”

Apparently Netfilx is keeping a close eye on my online activity, but like the old Google ads for baby products that used to pop up on this site (before I cut them off!), I don’t think understand me at all.

It’s Whiny Wednesday. What’s causing you to shake your head in dismay today?

Whiny Wednesday: M-Day Post-Mortem

Whiny_WednesdayI survived Mother’s Day relatively unscathed.

In a testament to how far we’ve come on our journey of coming-terms with infertility, Mr. Fab bought me flower and vegetable plants for my garden and told me they were a Mother’s Day gift from the cat. This is the first time he’s been able to say something like that and the first time I’ve been able to hear it without one or both of us sliding into a dark place. I call that progress.

I saw additional progress when we decided to go out for gelato and I noticed a sign announcing their Mother’s Day offer of a free scoop for moms. I decided I was okay with that, that it was a nice gesture, and that there was no need for me to kick up a stink about cruelly excluding those of us who didn’t get to be mothers. I ordered the two flavors I wanted and left it at that. And then…

“Do you want a third flavor?” asked the young, unsuspectingly girl.

“No thanks,” I said.

“We’re offering a free scoops for moms.”

“I know. I saw your sign.”

“Are you a mom?”

Beside me, I felt Mr. Fab brace for the storm. But I’m past all that, remember? So I shook my head, no.

The young girl made an apologetic face and finished scooping my TWO flavors.

“See where honesty gets you?” Mr. Fab muttered.

“Next year, I’m going to lie,” I said.

And this may be my tactic from now on. I’ll need an elaborate story to explain why I’m not with my kids on Mother’s Day, then I’ll just going around lying my head off, and gathering up the Mother’s Day swag.

I’ll report back next year on how this goes and how I actually feel about telling this particular whopper. I’ll also let you know if this is real progress or if my prior sadness and anger has just turned passive-aggressive.

For now, it’s Whiny Wednesday. If you’re still feeling the sting from this weekend, feel free to let it all out here.

 

 

Whiny Wednesday

Whiny_WednesdayWelcome to Whiny Wednesday!

If you’re new here, this is the day you get to whine, groan, and complain about whatever’s on your mind, on or off topic.

Another baby announcement in the family? Whine. We get it.

Working late again because you’re the only one who doesn’t have kids so everyone thinks you have no place important to be? Let it all out here.

Neighbor got his leaf blower on a 7:00 on a Sunday morning…again? Ok, well, that’s my whine.

The great thing about this party is you get to bring your own whine.

Whiny Wednesday: Wacky Weather

Whiny_WednesdayThis week’s whine is on behalf of those of you living in places where Spring has not yet sprung.

I was sitting out in my backyard in short sleeves last weekend, but this week I’m visiting my Mum in England and am wading through ten inches of snow. Ten inches and it’s almost April! The weather has gone completely mad.

It’s Whiny Wednesday, so feel free to let loose on whatever’s bothering you this week.

Whiny Wednesday: Equality

Whiny_WednesdayI don’t usually get political on this blog, but the recent Marriage Equality discussions have been pushing my buttons. I am strongly pro-gay marriage and am often dumbfounded by the arguments cited by opponents.

 

One morning last week, I heard someone on the radio saying (and I’m paraphrasing) that the constitution supported equality for like situations, and gay marriage and heterosexual marriage could never be equal because of the inability for gay couples to reproduce.

 

This pushes two of my buttons:

 

1)   As part of a straight couple who cannot reproduce, I take extreme exception to this suggestion that a marriage is only acceptable when it produces children.

2)   I know several gay couples who have reproduced via sperm donor, surrogate, or adoption. Is this person then suggesting that any marriage—gay or straight—that doesn’t produce children “naturally” falls into the category of unacceptable? Surely not.

 

It’s Whiny Wednesday. I’m on fire this week. What’s pushing your buttons?

Whiny Wednesday

Whiny_WednesdayCan I just say that just because I work from my home office doesn’t mean I have more free time than people who work more traditional jobs with more traditional hours? It doesn’t mean I’m the natural choice for volunteer errands. And it doesn’t mean I’m the right person to go and pick up a baby shower gift for someone else.

That’s all I’m saying on this topic, but it’s Whiny Wednesday, so please feel free to be as verbose as you like about your whines.