Life Without Baby

filling the silence in the motherhood discussion

Whiny Wednesday

Whiny_WednesdayMy whine today is that I am tired of being tired. I have a day clear of appointments today, which means I can settle down and write, take care of a client project, work on the website, and read a friend’s book proposal, but all I want to do is lay on the couch and sleep.

It’s on days like today that I am thankful I don’t have children to care for. You’ve seen those photos of the big sow, flopped on her side with a dozen piglets clamoring all over her. I’m afraid that if I had kids, that would be me.

Anyway, it’s Whiny Wednesday. If you have the energy, feel free to have a good gripe here today. Just don’t wake me up.

Whiny Wednesday

Whiny_WednesdayMy whine this week is people who use “I have kids” as a valid reason for not doing something they said they’d do (especially when it’s something they’ve been paid to do!)

If you can’t do it or don’t want to do it, just say so. But don’t make a promise, drop the ball, and then assume “I have a kid” is sufficient explanation.

It’s Whiny Wednesday. What’s up your nose today?

Whiny Wednesday

Whiny_WednesdaySummer’s here and, for us, that means bike rides at the beach.

As pleasant as that sounds, it’s often not as relaxing as it could be. Much time is spent dodging drunks, small children on tricycles, and wandering tourists. Mr. Fab and I have both taken tumbles because someone else wasn’t paying attention. I’ve had only minor scrapes and bruises, but Mr. Fab has a permanently separated shoulder to show for his adventures. I’ve seen bent handlebars, cracked helmets, and some nasty road rash out there over the years.

Which is why it drives me out of mind when I see parents carrying young children on bike seats with no helmets! Never mind that it’s against the law here in California, and never mind that they don’t think they’re going fast enough to get into an accident. At any speed, four feet is a long way for a soft skull to fall to hard concrete.

Would I have been a perfect parent? We’ll never know, but as my record is free of parental infractions, that gives me the right to whine about offenders.

As it is Whiny Wednesday, feel free to get your gripes off your chest here.

Whiny Wednesday: My Shower Invitation

Whiny_WednesdayAfter telling a friend recently that I haven’t had an invitation to a baby shower in years, guess what popped into my inbox last week?

But here’s the kicker: the invitation is from someone I don’t know who’s throwing a shower for someone else I don’t know, who happens to be expecting twins.

I scratched my head for a while wondering how to handle this. Should I point out I know neither the hostess nor the mother-to-be or should I just show up bearing gifts? (Okay, I was kidding about the latter.)

I guess this is the Universe’s strange idea of a practical joke, and for once, I’m actually laughing.

It’s Whiny Wednesday. What strange, ironic, or downright annoying things are going on in your Universe right now?

 

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: Dependents

Whiny_WednesdayI just filed my taxes and once again put a big fat zero on the line for dependents.

My whine (surprisingly) isn’t that people with kids get a tax break and I don’t; it’s more to do with the IRS’s definition of “dependent.” My definition differs greatly from theirs.

That’s all I’m saying publicly on that topic, but know that I’m whining on the inside today.

It is Whiny Wednesday. What’s on your mind?