This break has been incredibly relaxing. I can't remember the last time I was so thoroughly useless (well, maybe last Christmas), and I can't foresee another time when I'll have the luxury of being so thoroughly useless (until I'm like 80).
While I was lounging about, I had some deep thoughts on life. Well, relatively deep. Here they are in no particular order.
1. When you get pregnant, there are some questions you come to expect such as, "How far along are you?" "How sick have you been?" or "How much weight have you gained/lost?" However, there's been one question that has been asked a lot (pretty much every time I've told someone the news in person): "Was this planned?" (or the similar "How long had you been trying?")
I don't know why, but that question sure surprised me. In some cases it even preceded the person's congratulations. I suppose it's a natural thing to be curious about, and I'd rather have people ask me to my face than not, but I sure wasn't expecting it.
2. Kevin likes chocolate more than I do. So does his whole family. They also like cheesecake a whole lot more than I do. This has raised interesting questions in my mind about nature/nurture and why people like the foods they do. I remember that I didn't really like cinnamon bears until my mom started eating a lot of them. Then I realized that if I wanted candy then I had to like cinnamon bears. I've liked them ever since. I think the same thing applies to Kevin and cheesecake.
(As a side note, I feel like whenever I visit either side of the family, I'm more prone to analyze behaviors and traditions a lot more than I used to [essentially taking notes on what works and what doesn't for our future family]. Considering how much I absolutely detest feeling analyzed, I feel kind of hypocritical in doing this. But this whole candy/dessert difference really has me fascinated so I can't help myself.)
3. Speaking of food, Christmas break has been good to me and I'm finally starting to show. I usually gain weight when I go home (you know, regular meals, not walking to campus anymore, etc.), and I lose it after a few days of normal life. It's weird putting myself in the mindset that I'm supposed to gain weight and not fit into my clothes anymore. Guess I've listened to the subliminal messages of society just like every other woman . . .
4. It's funny: You can be surrounded by people you love, have no real chores, have 3+ delicious meals a day, enjoy comfortable room temperatures, take longer showers, and be surrounded by every book or movie that you might want to read or watch, and yet you still prefer to be at your cold little apartment in your own bed than at your parents' house. Last year my mom told me she was impressed that we survived staying at my parents' house for a week without going crazy, and I didn't see what she was talking about. Now I sort of do, though I'm not sure why it is.
5. I got maternity pants, and I don't know that I'll ever want to go back.
6. I've started making the transition in my mind from a student to a mom, and with that transition has come a desire to be less nerdy. In some ways that's probably a lost cause because I will probably always prefer factoring numbers, reading, and talking to guys to decorating, crafting, and talking to girls (though I still really like Relief Society). However, there might be hope: I recently took this test http://www.innergeek.us/geek-test.html and only scored 14%. So I think I deserve a refund on those brownies I made sophomore year for racking up the most nerd points throughout the semester.
7. I had the chance to watch some TV shows over the break that I hadn't seen before, and I came to the conclusion that I prefer the 2 hour story to the 42 minute or 30 episode story. I don't know what it is about TV shows, but there was something about them that seemed a great deal hokier than movies. Perhaps it's because they don't spend as long developing each episode as movie writers do for movies, or maybe there's a different set of acting skills preferred for TV, but I felt like I haven't really been missing much by not owning a TV.
Well, now you've gotten a little peek into my mind. Soon it will be full of plenty of other stuff, don't worry.
We're glad you came to visit! And we're completely fine that you prefer your apartment.
ReplyDeleteWhy is it important to be less nerdy as a mom? Are you worried your kids will be embarrassed by you? "Aw, Mom, can you please not remember everyone's birthdays?"
ReplyDeleteI have to second Leslie's question here -- personally I think it is more important to be even more nerdy if you are going to be a mom. Children ask questions, and as a kid, there is definitely more pride and connection in having a parent who can give you a quick, good answer than one who says, "I don't know," "What did your teacher say?" and "Go look it up." If it's a matter of feeling a more home-maker drive because your maternal nesting instincts are growing, just consider it a new facet of character as opposed to a replacement.
ReplyDeleteAbout your first point, sorry to have added one more person to that count!
ReplyDeleteThe first question you get probably because you are in the middle of grad school, instead of just before or after.
The second is likely due to the fact that 1 in 6 couples in America are infertile/have fertility problems (the rate has likely gone up since that study). So you are most fortunate.