Wednesday, April 23, 2008

I can't be Martha Stewart

Not that someone specific asked me to, but I realized that society kind of expects us, women to be a Martha Stewart type!

Why do I say this? Yesterday I was asked (again) at work what my plans are for coming back after maternity leave. No matter how many times I say that I don't want to do a full time job anymore, no one is listening (at least it feels that way!). In a way it feels good to know that people value what I do enough to want me back, but in another way it's annoying to have to say the same thing over and over again.

Walking to the train station last night, I realize that society expects you to be a superwoman: have kids (working thru the whole pregnancy), take care of them but still hold a full time job, cook and clean the house and in your spare time decorate and do arts and crafts just like Martha Stewart! Yeah, it all sounds wonderful on paper, but reality is different, at least for me. I can barely drag myself thru a whole day at work, and though I like to cook, there are days when I ask my husband to have cereals for dinner because I could not muster enough energy to even stick a frozen dinner in the microwave! And don't even get me started on cleaning the house. That is a lost battle already!

So, my decision, is to do what I can, when I can, and forget about what society says I should be doing as a mom/woman/wife!
Easier said than done!

Friday, April 18, 2008

Fashion forward or just teenager strage?

Yesterday was such a gorgeous afternoon. The birds were chirping, the sun was out, the flowers are booming. I was all excited about walking to the train station (1 1/2 mile of huffing and puffing). But instead of enjoying the walk, I was completely puzzled by these 2 teenager girls (probably around 16 or 17 years old) walking in front of me. The both wore identical outfits (I am pretty sure they were not siblings) of very short shorts (short enough that I do not think bending was a possibility) with spaghetti straps half shirts, ugg boots (yup the furry ones!) and hats (the type you would wear during a winter storm!) Now I am not even going to touch on the fact that wearing the same outfit as your friend is a little far fetched for me, but come on... ugg boots and short shorts? It was way too warm for ugg boots and a little too chilly for shorts and tiny camisoles!

So for the whole way home I kept thinking that I must be getting really old since I could not wrap my little head around that outfit!

Thursday, April 17, 2008

I still have a personal space!

It's very interesting to me how so many people think that pregnant women do not have a personal space anymore. Let me explain my statement.
I have noticed that over the past few months, ever since my belly became to resemble a basketball, people have this desire to touch my belly all the time. And I do not mean my friends, I mean random people, the ones that you say "good morning" to at work, but don't exchange any other words at all, or even complete stranger who you have just met.
The other day, this woman whom I have seen in the office but have never talked to, came up to me and said "oh, you are pregnant" and proceeded in rubbing my belly! I can not even tell you how disturbing that is! I mean, I am ok with friends touching my belly, especially if they ask before, but complete strangers?

My husband A mentioned a while ago when I first complained about this that next time when it happens I should touch their bellies as well. And guess what, my resolution after the last uncomfortable encounter is that I am going to do so! I am just not sure how I could tell people that being pregnant does not equal with no personal space or a sign that says "please touch and rub my belly"!

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Pregnancy brain

For the past 10 days I have been agonizing over the fact that I can't find my house and car keys. All I know is that I came home one day, I let my self in, and then the next morning I had to call my husband to ask him about the spare key to the house as I could not find mine. I have been streesing over the fact that maybe I came in the house and left the keys in the door and someone took them and now our house will be broken in. Loosing my keys coincided with some of the neiborhood kids breaking one of the exterior windows in our sun room (no, we have no idea who did it). So for the past 10 days I have been coming home and thinking that I will have to call the police to report a break in.

Mind you I have been looking for the keys in all imaginable places: behind the couch, in the cat's litter box (don't ask), under the tv stand, in all my other bags, even in the fridge (yup, I have put my keys in the fridge before)! Could not find them!

The situation changed today in the morning when I went to get my new pair of flats from the drawers. The keys were in one of the shoes! I have no idea how they got there, or when, but Alan and I got a good laugh at that!

Now I know for sure that what they say about pregnant women being spacy is true and not just an excuse that they came up for all the things we do backwards!

Cheers

Monday, April 7, 2008

Puzzled

Yesterday my husband and I decided to go and check up some stores for some much need it "crib purchase ed". We ended up in this one store that one of our friends recommended (beautiful furniture for babies, but wicked expensive in my opinion as I do not think that the baby's furniture should cost as much as our bedroom set) where A noticed that some of the crib sheet sets were more expensive that the crib. We were both puzzled to see this great looking set for girls (you know, the fitted sheet, bumper, ruffle and the blanket) for $399! No, I am not making it up, it really was $399!
I just don't get it. Obviously there is much less material need it, and the embroidery, as cute as it was, it was certanly not worth $300! My only explanation for the crazy price was that parents really get influenced by the whole crazy idea that their kids have to have the absolute best! I am all for my child to have nice things and usefull things, but do I really have to spend $400 on sheets to feel like I am a good mom?

On a side note, my own sheets cost about 10% of that amount since I have no problems with buying them at Target when they are on sale!