Our third baby! It was time to share the news with family, friends and everyone else. Funnily, all you have to do is share the news with a few people and they do the 'spreading of the news' for you. We were excited about our third baby, even though it was our 'third' and wanted to experience the reactions from our loved ones and the others and so wanted to break the news ourselves since we barely got to do it the first and second time we expected.
Well, turns out, as soon as we would say, 'we are expecting our third baby,' there would either be expressions of disbelief, shock, disapproval or sympathy. Time and again, we'd heard people say, 'don't worry, it will be a boy.' But we really aren't worried. After getting to know how single-minded most people are towards girl babies in India through the television and other media, we only had to experience it in real life to believe it. We would love a boy. Of course we would. But even if it is a girl, which Ben and Sil desire it to be...and me...we'd love her, knowing that there's nothing we've missed in life.
It was amusing when a fellow Christian asked me, 'was it planned? next time better be careful!' and another say, 'was it a mistake?'
Not that we don't support family planning. We do. We use contraceptives. Our third baby is only proof that even contraceptives cannot stop God's blessings. Was it a mistake? I don't think babies are a mistake, especially in marriage, when they are conceived in love.
Very few people, probably just a couple of them, have asked us, 'what are you'll expecting, a girl or a boy?' And very few have been genuinely supportive. All others have reacted as if there's more expected of them, now that there's another baby. It's not very pleasant, when people say, 'how are you doing, don't worry, we are praying that it will be a boy.' They wouldn't even take the time to ask if that's what we want. Well, if they want a boy, let them pray for one of their own...let mine be what God wants it to be! The baby is already conceived...it's not going to change its sex based on their preference!
I'm grateful to God for the few friends and family who have unconditionally and without condemnation stood by us through this happy time, not making us feel like it's some kind of an unusual happening.
Isn't it strange? When you don't have kids, people are always trying to figure out why you don't have any and when are you going to have one. When you have one, if it's a girl, they'd want you to have a boy and if it's a boy, well, in India, it would just as well be 'all boys.' And then, when you finally have a nice big family, they get worried that your family is getting 'too big' if you have any more babies! Like it's some task for them!
People will want to have their say. Whether it counts or not...depends on how you take it. We love our unborn baby. And welcome it whether it's a boy or a girl. A boy would be different...but a girl, she would be just as perfect as Sil and Za.
Well, turns out, as soon as we would say, 'we are expecting our third baby,' there would either be expressions of disbelief, shock, disapproval or sympathy. Time and again, we'd heard people say, 'don't worry, it will be a boy.' But we really aren't worried. After getting to know how single-minded most people are towards girl babies in India through the television and other media, we only had to experience it in real life to believe it. We would love a boy. Of course we would. But even if it is a girl, which Ben and Sil desire it to be...and me...we'd love her, knowing that there's nothing we've missed in life.
It was amusing when a fellow Christian asked me, 'was it planned? next time better be careful!' and another say, 'was it a mistake?'
Not that we don't support family planning. We do. We use contraceptives. Our third baby is only proof that even contraceptives cannot stop God's blessings. Was it a mistake? I don't think babies are a mistake, especially in marriage, when they are conceived in love.
Very few people, probably just a couple of them, have asked us, 'what are you'll expecting, a girl or a boy?' And very few have been genuinely supportive. All others have reacted as if there's more expected of them, now that there's another baby. It's not very pleasant, when people say, 'how are you doing, don't worry, we are praying that it will be a boy.' They wouldn't even take the time to ask if that's what we want. Well, if they want a boy, let them pray for one of their own...let mine be what God wants it to be! The baby is already conceived...it's not going to change its sex based on their preference!
I'm grateful to God for the few friends and family who have unconditionally and without condemnation stood by us through this happy time, not making us feel like it's some kind of an unusual happening.
Isn't it strange? When you don't have kids, people are always trying to figure out why you don't have any and when are you going to have one. When you have one, if it's a girl, they'd want you to have a boy and if it's a boy, well, in India, it would just as well be 'all boys.' And then, when you finally have a nice big family, they get worried that your family is getting 'too big' if you have any more babies! Like it's some task for them!
People will want to have their say. Whether it counts or not...depends on how you take it. We love our unborn baby. And welcome it whether it's a boy or a girl. A boy would be different...but a girl, she would be just as perfect as Sil and Za.
This Thought is not worth quarter-anna....its priceless!! Glad U finally poured ure heart out!!
ReplyDeleteYes, we love our lil baby either ways ..and note the use of the present tense ...because it's not that we "will love", we already do!! I can't wait to hold the tiny tot ...and I'm prepared for the nappy changes too! <3
ReplyDeleteThanks! Very few people understand the real worth of 'quarter anna' and that's why I called the blog just that.
ReplyDeletehttp://quarterannathoughts.blogspot.in/2009/07/whats-thought-worth-afterall.html
And yes, we love the little bundle any which ways! Present continuous :)