One of my favorite childfree books, Baby Not On Board, has a great little section called "A Saturday in the Life," which compares a childfree person's typical Saturday to that of a childed person's. The childfree Saturday sounded surprisingly like one of my own. So just for kicks, I thought I'd post what I did (and am doing) today in lieu of playing Mr. Potato Head and running to Costco for more mini corn dogs. Feel free to tell me how you spent your childfree Saturdays, as well!
8 A.M.: Get up. Husband is still sleeping (he is NOT an early weekend riser.) Greet the cat, who follows me downstairs. Pour out some nice Kashi cereal and soymilk for myself and some kitty treats for her.
8:15 A.M.: Settle down in the living room with breakfast. All is quiet. Happily curl up, eat my cereal and finish the book I've been reading.
10 A.M.: Watch two episodes of South Park. Now that is what I call a Saturday morning cartoon!
11 A.M.: Husband wakes up. We sit together and talk for a bit while he opens some mail we got this week.
11:30 A.M.: Head upstairs to update my iPod. We went to a Foo Fighters concert on Tuesday night, so I'm super into them right now. I hit the iTunes store and use some of that nice extra disposable income to fill in all the holes in my Foo collection.
12 P.M.: iPod loaded, it's time to go out for a run. I do two miles downtown and back along the Hudson River, music blasting in my ears.
12:45 P.M.: Back home. Fix lunch (a veggie burger, yogurt and fruit.) Sit with my husband while he watches UFC Unleashed from the DVR. Laugh at it.
1:30 P.M.: Take a shower and take my sweet time doing a body scrub, pedicure, and all those things I don't have time for during the week. Gotta look good to go out tonight!
2:30 P.M.: Interrupt my husband to ask if he's interested in some post-shower fun. He is. Head upstairs.
3:15 P.M.: Get dressed.
3:30 P.M.: Time to get serious. Where are we having dinner tonight? We've got a band of five (childfree, of course) friends to go to dinner and drinks with, and it's up to us to make the reservations. We settle on a fabulous wine bar in Soho that also serves food and call everyone to let them know.
4:15 P.M.: Upstairs for some more quiet time while my husband plays video games. Right now, it's 4:25 and I'm just about done with this blog entry. After that, I plan to do a few things around the house and then...
7 P.M.: Meet our friends for dinner. Enjoy yummy grown-up food and tasting flights of local wine. After dinner, we'll no doubt end up at one of several very good bars in the area. Who knows how late we'll be out?
So in conclusion... yeah, childfree Saturdays are pretty much awesome. I'll take my day in a heartbeat over getting up with some screamy kid, getting him dressed, playing with him all day and cutting up hot dogs for his lunch. No thank you.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Friday, February 8, 2008
Back from the Dead
Hi all!
No, I wasn't really dead, just very busy (in a good way.) I'm popping in briefly to share an article that some idiot wrote over at the Atlantic:
http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/print/200803/single-marry
The author essentially advises single women to settle, instead of waiting for the right one to come along. That's bad enough in itself, but what truly irks me are her assumptions about what all women want. Check this out if you're in the mood to get pissed, ladies.
No, I wasn't really dead, just very busy (in a good way.) I'm popping in briefly to share an article that some idiot wrote over at the Atlantic:
http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/print/200803/single-marry
The author essentially advises single women to settle, instead of waiting for the right one to come along. That's bad enough in itself, but what truly irks me are her assumptions about what all women want. Check this out if you're in the mood to get pissed, ladies.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
My 15 Minutes of Fame
Childfree Corner will soon be coming to a New York Observer article near you.
I was interviewed recently for an Observer piece on the current baby-crazed culture. The author wanted to include the childfree perspective, and contacted me via this blog. I will be very interested to see how the article turns out.
What amazes me about this is that being childfree is newsworthy. I'm kind of of two minds about that. I'm thrilled that the childfree perspective is getting more of a voice, and very grateful that I'm able to participate in that. But at the same time... isn't it sobering to realize that we're such a minority that our having made this decision is actually considered news? Not just to our families and friends, but the kind that's reported in a newspaper?
Hopefully, the more we spread the word about our lifestyle, the less unusual we'll seem to everyone.
I was interviewed recently for an Observer piece on the current baby-crazed culture. The author wanted to include the childfree perspective, and contacted me via this blog. I will be very interested to see how the article turns out.
What amazes me about this is that being childfree is newsworthy. I'm kind of of two minds about that. I'm thrilled that the childfree perspective is getting more of a voice, and very grateful that I'm able to participate in that. But at the same time... isn't it sobering to realize that we're such a minority that our having made this decision is actually considered news? Not just to our families and friends, but the kind that's reported in a newspaper?
Hopefully, the more we spread the word about our lifestyle, the less unusual we'll seem to everyone.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
I'm Not Pregnant, I'm Just Fat
Because it makes me feel better and I thought it might amuse, I've come up with a list of comebacks for women who are mistaken for being pregnant. Some of these are my own inventions and some were gathered from around the 'net.
Childfrees who have never had this happen to you, please feel free to skip this post. I'm on a bit of a roll at the moment.
"Are you pregnant?"
-No, I'm just fat.
-No, are you?
"You look like you've gained a little weight."
-I have. Thanks a lot for pointing that out.
"Congratulations!"
-Thanks. On what?
"So, when's the blessed event?"
-Actually, our wedding was a year ago.
"So, when are you due?"
-Due for what?
-Never.
-I have no idea. How about you?
"I see you're expecting!"
-Expecting what?
-I'm expecting a lot of things, but a baby isn't one of them.
"So, how far along are you?"
-27 years.
"I didn't know you were pregnant!"
-I didn't know either! How did you know?
"You're so pregnant!"
-You're so wrong!
-You're so rude!
Childfrees who have never had this happen to you, please feel free to skip this post. I'm on a bit of a roll at the moment.
"Are you pregnant?"
-No, I'm just fat.
-No, are you?
"You look like you've gained a little weight."
-I have. Thanks a lot for pointing that out.
"Congratulations!"
-Thanks. On what?
"So, when's the blessed event?"
-Actually, our wedding was a year ago.
"So, when are you due?"
-Due for what?
-Never.
-I have no idea. How about you?
"I see you're expecting!"
-Expecting what?
-I'm expecting a lot of things, but a baby isn't one of them.
"So, how far along are you?"
-27 years.
"I didn't know you were pregnant!"
-I didn't know either! How did you know?
"You're so pregnant!"
-You're so wrong!
-You're so rude!
"Congratulations!"
Number of people who have now "congratulated" me on being pregnant: 4, in under 2 months.
Number of people who have asked whether I am before doing so: 0.
MEMO TO ALL MY ACQUAINTANCES: I'M NOT PREGNANT. AND ANYONE WHO ACTUALLY KNOWS ME KNOWS IT. PLEASE STOP EMBARRASSING ME AND YOURSELVES AND KEEP YOUR FUCKING MOUTHS SHUT.
Yes, I am trying to lose a bit of weight around the middle to stop this. But I refuse to blame it all on myself. I'm only 145 lbs. and 5'5"! My BMI is in the healthy range -- according to the medical profession, I'm not even overweight. Millions of men walk around every day with huge beer guts and don't have to endure this.
WHAT IS WRONG WITH EVERYONE?
The next person who comments on this is gonna get decked. I'm through being polite. I'm just going to punch them.
Number of people who have asked whether I am before doing so: 0.
MEMO TO ALL MY ACQUAINTANCES: I'M NOT PREGNANT. AND ANYONE WHO ACTUALLY KNOWS ME KNOWS IT. PLEASE STOP EMBARRASSING ME AND YOURSELVES AND KEEP YOUR FUCKING MOUTHS SHUT.
Yes, I am trying to lose a bit of weight around the middle to stop this. But I refuse to blame it all on myself. I'm only 145 lbs. and 5'5"! My BMI is in the healthy range -- according to the medical profession, I'm not even overweight. Millions of men walk around every day with huge beer guts and don't have to endure this.
WHAT IS WRONG WITH EVERYONE?
The next person who comments on this is gonna get decked. I'm through being polite. I'm just going to punch them.
Friday, September 7, 2007
Friday Fun: Kremlin Cocktail
In my recent cocktail-mixing experiments, I came across this seemingly little-known recipe. I now firmly believe that this is the world's greatest nightcap/after-dinner drink. Mix a couple up tonight for you and your partner and toast your ability to relax together childfree, or just enjoy one by yourself while watching the late show.
Into an ice-filled cocktail shaker, pour 1 oz each vodka, cream, and white creme de cacao. Shake well (this drink is best VERY cold) and strain into a chilled rocks glass over ice.
Into an ice-filled cocktail shaker, pour 1 oz each vodka, cream, and white creme de cacao. Shake well (this drink is best VERY cold) and strain into a chilled rocks glass over ice.
Choice
This is an unusually serious topic for a Friday, but it's something that's been on my mind.
I've thought a lot about whether, if I ever got pregnant by accident, I would have an abortion. I've recently concluded that I would, although of course not without telling my husband and giving him a chance to weigh in on the subject. But ultimately, I believe I would terminate the pregnancy because I really don't want a child. And I believe all children should be wanted.
This isn't the place to debate whether we believe abortion is wrong or not, and I won't respond to comments that attempt to engage me in that debate. Please, let's just keep that out of this. I'm solid in my views on the subject and they aren't going to change, nor are anyone else's. This post is about whether I would exercise my legal rights in such a situation. And I would -- to the fullest extent of the law.
I understand that some don't believe in abortion, and that's another topic for another day. What I don't understand are those folks who do accept abortion, don't want children, and yet somehow believe that if they became pregnant, it would be some sort of blessing and they should simply go with the flow. An unwanted child would not be a blessing for me; it would be a nightmare. And while the decision to terminate would no doubt be difficult, I strongly believe it would be in the best interests of everyone involved.
I've heard people argue that in this situation, "married, stable" couples shouldn't be choosing to terminate -- that because we're married and have lots of money, basically we have no excuse not to raise the child. Well, here's my excuse: I don't want to. And that's the best reason of all not to do so.
I've thought a lot about whether, if I ever got pregnant by accident, I would have an abortion. I've recently concluded that I would, although of course not without telling my husband and giving him a chance to weigh in on the subject. But ultimately, I believe I would terminate the pregnancy because I really don't want a child. And I believe all children should be wanted.
This isn't the place to debate whether we believe abortion is wrong or not, and I won't respond to comments that attempt to engage me in that debate. Please, let's just keep that out of this. I'm solid in my views on the subject and they aren't going to change, nor are anyone else's. This post is about whether I would exercise my legal rights in such a situation. And I would -- to the fullest extent of the law.
I understand that some don't believe in abortion, and that's another topic for another day. What I don't understand are those folks who do accept abortion, don't want children, and yet somehow believe that if they became pregnant, it would be some sort of blessing and they should simply go with the flow. An unwanted child would not be a blessing for me; it would be a nightmare. And while the decision to terminate would no doubt be difficult, I strongly believe it would be in the best interests of everyone involved.
I've heard people argue that in this situation, "married, stable" couples shouldn't be choosing to terminate -- that because we're married and have lots of money, basically we have no excuse not to raise the child. Well, here's my excuse: I don't want to. And that's the best reason of all not to do so.
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