A confession: I’ve bookmarked a handful of the blogs written by some childhood acquaintances about … wait for … their children.
Before you get all worked up thinking I’ve got the baby fever, let me assure you that’s not the case. The Modern Love Machine and I are not in any sort of place to have children. We’re not even sure how we feel about them. Well, I know I’m obssessed with my youngest Goddaughter, but I’m not sure how I feel about any other child. And if anyone asks me when we’re going to start having kids (which surprisingly no one has), I have a prepared list of snarky or educational remarks for them.
It’s just, I’m facinated by the family lives of my friends who I used to be so alike but now feel so, so different than. It started several years ago when one of my best middle school buds started blogging about her growing family. Her son (and now sons) just seemed so adorable, and I loved reading about her family’s trips to the lake and park and zoo and what not.
Then I started clandestinely checking the blogs of other childhood acquaintances, and then clicking on the links to the blogs listed on their blogroll. I never had any of them bookmarked except for my middle school pal’s. For some reason, it felt elicit to bookmark these blogs that detailed these lives that were so different from mine.
After a few months of manually checking their blogs for updates, I figured it’s time to give in.
I like to think of my enjoyment and fascination of mom blogs as a way of curbing any desire I might have to have children before my time. I get to think their kids are cute and adorable and then walk away when those same kids turn cranky and annoying.
Wait, HOLD THE PHONE, you’ve lived in the South all these years and HAVEN’T been getting the kids question? Whereas I live in liberal California and even years before we were officially married have had to learn to field that very question with more grace than snark (seeing as we don’t really plan on having kids, ever)? This is me being green with envy.
(But I totally know what you mean. I am obsessed with my nieces and love reading mommy blogs–when well done, that is–despite not wanting children of my own. You should read alimartell.com. I know her IRL and while her kids are all older now–5, 8 and 10–they are the funniest kids I have ever met.)
I’m obsessed with your youngest godchild too! Weird, huh. Wait until you see what she does now… I’ll give you a hint… she no longer stays in one spot when you put her down. It’s craziness. Anywho.. kids seem to grow on you after you have one. I was NOT a kid person until my own entered the world but now I don’t mind them. Except when they’re brats. Hmmm, maybe I don’t like kids afterall (except mine) (and yours if you and the MLM decide to have one)
Oh, will you please share your list of snarky/educational responses to the “when are you having kids” question? Because I get it ALL THE F’ING TIME, and I’m not even married.