What Folks are Saying About My Baby Jones
I admit. Emotionally at least, I am full-on Jones-in’ for a baby. By the time Elias was 13 months old, as Lena is now, I was already about 6 weeks pregnant. I have much to say on this matter but I will save that for another post. In a nutshell, I can say that it is purely emotional. Logically, I want no part of another baby. I am no fool. For today, let’s hear from the peanut gallery that is my extended family. The subject has come up with almost everyone.
My Stepdad: He came right out and asked me, “Y’all ain’t gonna have no more babies, are ya?” When I said I wasn't sure (even though I am), he raised his eyebrows and dropped his jaw in his best and most exaggerated sitcom-shocked pose. He then conjured the voice of Arnold a la Gary Coleman and asked, "You crazy?" How exactly does one respond to that, anyway? I just kind of nervously laughed and looked at him.
My mother: She waited for the laugh track that followed Stepdad’s commentary and then very visibly kicked him under the table in her best effort to be lovingly supportive of whatever I decide. She even told him, “Jimmie, that’s none of your business!” But I know she worries that I'd be totally nuts to consider another baby. Actually, I agree with her.
My Dad: He is so wonderfully direct. When I told him just last weekend it might be hard to close the door on any more children, he looked at me squarely and said, "What? You don't like sleep?" Good point, Dad. And actually, yes, I do like it very much. I think it’s just that it’s been so long, I forgot what I’m missing.
My in-laws: Also very loving, very supportive, and very concerned. My mother-in-law had a very interesting perspective. I asked her if she always just knew they would stop at two. She said that in the late 60s when her kids were born, she and those she ran with were so very ecologically minded, that it was just kind of a given. “Back then we thought, you replace yourselves in the Universe and then you just kind of just move on,” she told me. I like that. I could be convinced to go with that.
My brother: He hasn’t said much, but he’s a quiet guy. He loves being an uncle either way.
My twin sister: She flashed me a great big smile and her eyes twinkled and she said, “Wait for me!” How awesome would it be to be pregnant alongside my sister when she has her first child? Too awesome! Very tempting. But No.
If only it was so easy to plan these things.
When both my kids were born, she was so happy for me. And she is so in love with them. Just look at her. She’s a natural.
I think I will just hand off the baton and let her take it from here…
My Stepdad: He came right out and asked me, “Y’all ain’t gonna have no more babies, are ya?” When I said I wasn't sure (even though I am), he raised his eyebrows and dropped his jaw in his best and most exaggerated sitcom-shocked pose. He then conjured the voice of Arnold a la Gary Coleman and asked, "You crazy?" How exactly does one respond to that, anyway? I just kind of nervously laughed and looked at him.
My mother: She waited for the laugh track that followed Stepdad’s commentary and then very visibly kicked him under the table in her best effort to be lovingly supportive of whatever I decide. She even told him, “Jimmie, that’s none of your business!” But I know she worries that I'd be totally nuts to consider another baby. Actually, I agree with her.
My Dad: He is so wonderfully direct. When I told him just last weekend it might be hard to close the door on any more children, he looked at me squarely and said, "What? You don't like sleep?" Good point, Dad. And actually, yes, I do like it very much. I think it’s just that it’s been so long, I forgot what I’m missing.
My in-laws: Also very loving, very supportive, and very concerned. My mother-in-law had a very interesting perspective. I asked her if she always just knew they would stop at two. She said that in the late 60s when her kids were born, she and those she ran with were so very ecologically minded, that it was just kind of a given. “Back then we thought, you replace yourselves in the Universe and then you just kind of just move on,” she told me. I like that. I could be convinced to go with that.
My brother: He hasn’t said much, but he’s a quiet guy. He loves being an uncle either way.
My twin sister: She flashed me a great big smile and her eyes twinkled and she said, “Wait for me!” How awesome would it be to be pregnant alongside my sister when she has her first child? Too awesome! Very tempting. But No.
If only it was so easy to plan these things.When both my kids were born, she was so happy for me. And she is so in love with them. Just look at her. She’s a natural.
I think I will just hand off the baton and let her take it from here…
Comments
We each had 3 kids in our families and it just seemed right for us. I would have always felt like someone was missing if we'd stopped at 2. And my third is the sweetest, happiest little guy. He was our reward for putting up with the first two ;-).
Anyway, if you do it, I would recommend doing it sooner than later. You're already in the diaper mode and you won't believe how much easier it is going from 2 to 3 than from 1 to 2. Go with your heart...
sometimes, I find it really hard to take all the comments from the peanut gallery... but I have to say that I love what your MIL had to say about it.