General Etiquette > Family and Children

Doesn't S/He Make YOU Want One?

(1/14) > >>

ehartsay:
This is a question that I am not very frequently asked, but it is a bit flummoxing.

THe situation: Person is holding or passing a baby and gushing over it (their baby or someone else's), then thye turn to you and go "isn't he the cutest thing! Doesn't he make YOU want one of your own?!"

My response tends to be along the lines of "Well he sure IS cute" and TRY to leave it at that,
rather than the rather more truthful
"Well he IS cute, and if I were a person who wanted kids, maybe..."
or the much more truthfull,
"Cute, maybe, but I still prefer a cat"
and the REALLY truthfull,
""Cute?yes. Want one myself? HECK (not the word I would have chosen) NO!"

I find this question kind of annoying, because it runs the risk of someone being forced to lie about their own perosnal preferences for themself or being 'rude'.

Anyone else have this problem?

hobish:

Yeah. I just go with the "mmmmhmmm...sure, cute, yeah," but it is rather apparent that i am not comfortable around babies. Most people pick up on that & leave me be.

Hawkwatcher:
My SIL has said that in the past in public when we ever see a couple with a baby or small child.  I really do not know how to respond because if I answer honestly, I risk having the parents, who are innocent bystanders, getting the impression that I think that their child is hideous.

Just Lori:
After two kids and 6,278,426 sleepless nights (at least that's what it felt like at the time), I can answer this one honestly:  No.

Seriously, I think your kitten comment is fine.  People have a lot of good reasons for not wanting kids.  When I watch my 49-year-old friend struggling with his toddler while he tries to keep an eye on his infant son and his 7-year-old, I just giggle to myself and offer to play with the toddler or cuddle the baby.  But I have no problem handing them back and going home for a full night's sleep.

housewife2k:
My sister became sick of people asking her this after each of my three sons were born. Now, whenever anyone does the "OOOHHH Look at the CUTE baby, Doesn't it make you want one????" My sis's standard response is "Ohh, I'd love to have one, but you know, I'm allergic."

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page