While I was outrageously shocked by the conventional line-of-thought some so-called modern friends had to offer, I love how well my best friends know me - Their first reaction on hearing about 'X' was not the conventional "Take care of yourself...Dont do this...Dont do that..." kinda unsolicited bull-crap (Pardon my French there).
It was straight up, just as I like it - "Shwets - make sure you go a 'little' easy on the Vino." (The operative word being 'little' here.)
The parents were another surprise package - Put aside the fact that when we broke the news to them over the phone, there prevailed for a susbtantial amount of time, what I have aptly termed as a 'pregnant pause'. Finally, when I almost hung up, thinking I got cut off the line or something, Pops' spoke up - "You're not kidding right?". Hubster, who was on speaker, glances in my direction with a look that questions - "Wow, you're family surely takes kidding to a whole new level." Poor him, he's only subjected to a speck of the insanity, that is the trio of Mom, Pops & I.
Mom & Pops both took a while (read: weeks) to digest the news. Mom even said - "Well, I dont think I am ready to be grandma yet, but this too shall pass." It's amazing how time and again, she upp's her 'cool quotient' just like that. I think that amount of detachment is the best inheritance a parent can pass on to their child, ever.
The best friend, as am I, are already rooting for an XY. She declared the other day "We need a girl in the family now." Hubster prefers to be safe - "XX or XY, either is good. As long as he/ she does'nt inherit your side's insanity and inherits my brain." (With eccentricity being our middle name, he sure is hoping for a lot there.)
Another friend said "You'll make a really bad mom, Shweyta." I loved that reaction. It was honest. And possibly true. The friend explained how he thinks I'll never make it to one of those 'New Moms-gushing-all-over-their-babies' list or that I am totally capable of rush-feeding or forecefully putting X to bed, just to make it in time to attend another party or the next Cuisine Club event. I''ll be honest - he was bang-on target - I have been thinking about it.
There are others who seem to think that Hubster will make a very good Dad. Good for him! He'll be half the good Dad, as far as I am concerned, if he can remember there's someone to take care of, while he's busy flipping channels on TV, on his generously long paternity leave.
And of course there are the non-believers - the friends who are still in denial about the whole thing. "I cant believe you'r having a baby Shwets, it sure must be the end of a decade." - I' ve heard that often enough now to wonder what have I gotten myself into. It may have something to do with my continuing lifestyle, that has seen very little change in the past 15 weeks. As some people tell me, it's a fortunate scenario to be in, where not much changes; so be it.
And then there is the adorable ex-roomie Jeff, who already has name suggestions for X -
- Shweaty Jr.
- Scone Head (Babies always have odd heads)
- Duct Tape (if he or she is a breaker of things)
- Poop Monster (This will be a given)
- Bundles
- Blanket Head (The name of MJ's kids)
It's brilliant. With friends of ours already chipping in like this, X is surely going to be taken good care of, all of his/her life.
The Best friend's hubby has instructed that the 'name list' must pass through him. After what he thinks were my somewhat 'ridiculous' name suggestions for the nephew, he thinks this scrutiny might save a child's future. I wonder which his favorite pick will be, from Jeff's list above.
While Hubster and I are still in chillax mode (read: 'irresponsible to-be parents mode', as some people put it), love, life and leisure are going on just as they were before. In the process, I' ve discovered some really good beers (ya ya, they are non-alcoholic - for all you 'raised eyebrows' up there) and concluded that non-alcoholic wine tastes like grape juice gone bad. There is the ocassional sip of champagne sometimes and the heavenly sip of a Red once-in-a-while, that keeps me going. But the 'sip' is a 'glass' for now. Still there may be a good chance, that X may emerge from the oven with a bottle of Rioja and proclaim out loud "Cheers Shweyts! Here's to our fun vino times together."*
*Idea that stemmed from another best friend's imagination.
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