Thinking about future socialising
As you all must be aware by now, I shall be a mother fairly soon - unless something goes wrong, of course. Unsurprisingly, this has led me to thinking a bit about babies.
Generally I don't like babies very much. In the main I have found them to be nasty sniffling crying puking things that I'd rather avoid. I have found some notable exceptions who I love to bits, particularly in recent years when close friends/relatives have produced them - and I can certainly think of a handful that I have absolutely adored from the word go. However, I am also aware that (particularly going back a bit) someone appearing with a baby and expecting me to go all gooey made me feel very uncomfortable and sometimes even a bit annoyed.
This leads me to the conclusion that when I appear with a baby there will almost certainly be friends of mine who will feel similarly uncomfortable and awkward. I don't really want to put people through that if I can help it. Okay, anyone who comes over here is going to have to darn well put up with it - but that doesn't necessarily have to extend to other situations.
What I'm trying to get a handle on (before I go all gooey and lose all sense) is who actually seriously honestly likes babies and would be happy for me to visit with little 'un in tow, and who would really rather I left her at home when possible. I already have friends who have clearly planted themselves in both camps, and can honestly assure you that I am not at all offended by that - I would just rather know one way or another rather than wondering all the time. So any comments (or private e mails if you would be more comfortable with that) as to your general personal preferences would be appreciated. Extending an invitation to one or both of us to come sans baby will not cause offence - in fact I'd rather know one way or the other if it's not obvious (e.g. if the invitation is to a pub or restaurant I wouldn't be bringing baby anyway, but it's less clear when visiting people at home).
On a similar note, I am aware that new born babies are not beautiful, so no-one needs to try to pretend that ours is. Well, not to me anyway, I can't speak for ephraim on that.
[edit to add - please don't anyone take this to mean that I have felt awkward around his/her baby, as I honestly can't think of anyone on my LJ friends list who has made me feel this way - with me it's been more of a general thing with babies of people I don't know very well].
[further edit to add - I had assumed that it would go without saying, but since so many of you have mentioned it I should assure you that I would never ask a friend to change a nappy outside of the context of said friend having offered to babysit for an evening or suchlike.]
Generally I don't like babies very much. In the main I have found them to be nasty sniffling crying puking things that I'd rather avoid. I have found some notable exceptions who I love to bits, particularly in recent years when close friends/relatives have produced them - and I can certainly think of a handful that I have absolutely adored from the word go. However, I am also aware that (particularly going back a bit) someone appearing with a baby and expecting me to go all gooey made me feel very uncomfortable and sometimes even a bit annoyed.
This leads me to the conclusion that when I appear with a baby there will almost certainly be friends of mine who will feel similarly uncomfortable and awkward. I don't really want to put people through that if I can help it. Okay, anyone who comes over here is going to have to darn well put up with it - but that doesn't necessarily have to extend to other situations.
What I'm trying to get a handle on (before I go all gooey and lose all sense) is who actually seriously honestly likes babies and would be happy for me to visit with little 'un in tow, and who would really rather I left her at home when possible. I already have friends who have clearly planted themselves in both camps, and can honestly assure you that I am not at all offended by that - I would just rather know one way or another rather than wondering all the time. So any comments (or private e mails if you would be more comfortable with that) as to your general personal preferences would be appreciated. Extending an invitation to one or both of us to come sans baby will not cause offence - in fact I'd rather know one way or the other if it's not obvious (e.g. if the invitation is to a pub or restaurant I wouldn't be bringing baby anyway, but it's less clear when visiting people at home).
On a similar note, I am aware that new born babies are not beautiful, so no-one needs to try to pretend that ours is. Well, not to me anyway, I can't speak for ephraim on that.
[edit to add - please don't anyone take this to mean that I have felt awkward around his/her baby, as I honestly can't think of anyone on my LJ friends list who has made me feel this way - with me it's been more of a general thing with babies of people I don't know very well].
[further edit to add - I had assumed that it would go without saying, but since so many of you have mentioned it I should assure you that I would never ask a friend to change a nappy outside of the context of said friend having offered to babysit for an evening or suchlike.]