–adjective
1. disappointed; thwarted: an announcer who was a frustrated actor.
2. having a feeling of or filled with frustration; dissatisfied: His unresolved difficulty left him absolutely frustrated.
My coworkers are on my last frayed nerve. The issue isn't work, the ridiculous monotony I subject myself to for the opportunity to pay my bills with real money, but the people themselves. They are all procreating (or trying to).
Not with each other, mind you, but with their spouses and it is driving me nuts. It's not like a "been there done that" issue at all - it's more that they are all asking my advice on things AND THEN NOT TAKING THAT ADVICE. And then, on top of that, they are talking as "experts" on subjects they know nothing about, TO ME. THE ONE WITH A CHILD.
In my office I am a novelty as I am over thirty, married for (gasp!) four and a half years, and I have a child. Only two other people out of twenty can say the same thing. And there is little the other people want to discuss other than getting pregnant/being pregnant. Except it goes a little something like this:
Co-Worker: "My husband doesn't want me to get any ultrasounds because the radiation will hurt the baby."
Of course I asked her the same thing you would - "So, you're turning off your cell phone too? Because it's the same amount of radiation."
Chirp chirp. Silence.
Or my favorite - "I'm never having an epidural or any drugs AT ALL when I give birth." Well, good for you. And admittedly this one makes me feel like I'm being judged because it always begins with someone asking me if I had an epidural. Yes, I did. The pitocin made my contractions so unbearable that I would have had an epidural in my eyeball if it meant the pain would stop.
Chirp.
Sidenote - I do have a co-worker whose wife gave birth naturally in their home to FOUR children. More power to them. But when he said that the husband's job as coach "was as exhausting as actually giving birth" I made a mental note to slip laxatives in his coffee when no one was looking.
On to my favorite - the inevitable conversation on immunizations wherein I end the topic by congratulating the person for having so much faith in every other parent in the world to immunize so that their own unprotected child won't be exposed to a preventable horrific disease. Because, you know, I myself wouldn't know anything about actually making THE SAME DECISION but I did it with my OB/GYN and pediatrician and husband. Not a chat room on babycenter.com.
Chirp. Silence.
Or how it doesn't matter how much folic acid you pop into your mouth, drinking green tea inhibits the absorption of folic acid by your body. But go ahead, drink up. Don't listen to me. You asked me what I knew about folic acid and I told you. Don't dismiss the information because it doesn't conform to the answer you want.
Chirp. Confused look. Silence.
Because a lot of having children is hearing/doing/seeing things you don't necessarily want to. Like breastfeeding every two hours whether you're exhausted or not. Or having a baby that doesn't want anyone but you holding her, at least 23 of 24 hours per day. Or giving up sushi and goat cheese while pregnant, not to mention deli meats, coffee, and yes, green tea. Or saying no and meaning it when it counts - every time.
So here's my advice to you. Don't ask me if you don't really want to know the answer. And be prepared that, as a parent, I do know what I'm talking about.
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