Ask Amy: Pregnancy news births mixed reactions
When a woman announces her pregnancy, the response should be positive and supportive.
If someone responded to you in a way that was less than positive and supportive, then that person should get it together and connect with you again in order to listen, talk, commiserate (if it comes to that), and offer their support to you.
The empathy should flow from them to you; this is one situation where you shouldn’t carry the burden of empathizing with them.
If you need support that you are not receiving, you should bravely ask for it.
The way to move past these reactions is the same way you will experience this pregnancy: one day at a time. Experiencing a pregnancy can be like marking time according to a slowly-emptying “hourglass” that lasts for nine months.
Every day brings new realizations, challenges, joys, and excitement – where it is important to concentrate more on yourself and your household, and less on the opinions of others.
This is great practice for experiencing the first year of your baby’s life, where “one day at a time” is the wisest way to go, and where the hours sometimes drag, but the year seems to fly.
Dear Amy: I’m going through some tough times. I’ve always been strong and independent, and I think I’ve also been a good friend.
I know my old friends care about me, but I need more right now, but I don’t know how to ask for it.
Do you have any suggestions?
...continued
