I Just Can't Relate

I love my friends, and their kids. I absolutely adore walking into my friend's homes and seeing their children's faces light up and the hugs and kisses I get from them. I really enjoy having the kids curled on my lap so I can read them books and sing songs with them.

I know that these children are the focus of my friends' lives. I understand that their attachment is to their home. And I know that my friends care about me and are working hard to keep up the relationship with me on top of all of their familial responsibilities.

Which is why I feel bad when, after sitting through half an hour or more of listening to discussion of bedtime schedules, ear infections, and toilet training stories, I just want to say to my friends, "I don't care. I can't relate to your stories, it is not my stage of life at the moment. I just don't care if your child can sleep with his blanket or not. And I can't handle listening to you talk about it anymore."

Of course, I never say these things. And I welcome cute stories about the funny things that my friends' children do. But honestly, after listening to the toilet training, bedtime schedules and feeding troubles from my friends, I don't want to talk to my friends anymore. And it makes me feel like if that is what being a parents does to you - reduces from an intellectual human being who can speak intelligently about many topics to someone who discusses how often their babies spit up, I don't want to do it.

So, to my married friends - if you want me to desire to have children, please stop. Please talk to me about things I can relate to. Tell me the cute stories. Send me pictures.

Sorry for the rant - can you tell I just had another of those conversations?