DRAWING LINES

We all have people in our lives who are nosey as fuck and regularly cross into what normal folk would recognize as dangerous territory.  Most of these people are in our lives still because for one reason or another, we cannot get rid of them.  Read:  Family.

Navigating the tips of their olfactory units can be tricky - especially when they seem to poke, swing and careen in and out of view while trying to get information (ironically, these are the same people who can't keep their mouths closed to begin with.)

Don't let this seemingly uphill battle discourage you from nipping the problem in the bud, however.  This is practice for your future parenting - learning to shut down the outside noise.

Here are some of the rules I am slowly developing to help my Hub and I soar through this pregnancy without crashing and burning (some one's house down). . .

1.  You reign in your people and your partner reign in theirs.  In our house, the rule goes on to state that "there is always a choice.  You can handle it, or I will."  This rule goes back to two days before our wedding.  It is a good story.

2.  Be a united front.  If the front cracks, the enemy infiltrates and the town burns.  (There's a lot of burning in this post, eh?)

3.  Set expectations.  This goes for your partner, yourself and the people with whom you surround yourself.  People are not mind readers.  (We have now reached the relationship speech part of the post.)  You cannot hold a person accountable for being unable to reach your expectations if they cannot even see the bar that you have set.  I try to remind myself of this every day when my hormones make me crazy.  (REMINDER:  I must dedicate an entire post to the Pregnancy Angries.)

I think these three rules are integral to pregnancy and the future child rearing years.  I'm sure there are other fine jewels in the crowns of husbandry and parenting.  And that brings me to the newest rule:

4.  If you aren't ready for or open to advice, make sure to politely forewarn the know-it-alls so that you have a foothold when you have to melt their faces off.  (NOTE:  that was "melt" and not really "burn")

When all else fails, I know that I am the pregnant one.  I need to retain composure and I need to remain relaxed for my health.  That is a good gauge for decision making right now.