|
Why do moms and mother-in-laws pressure? Good question, my mother did. And when my wife and I raised the very valid issue that we were realistically too old, Mom suggested adoption.
Must not be enough for some women to have kids; they feel like failures if their _kids_ don't have kids and carry on the line. Neither my sister or I had children, and it about drove my mother crazy.
Now mind you, this is the woman who can't stand to have a family with a squalling infant sit anywhere near her in a restaurant. Who tried a short stint as a nanny -- three weeks -- and gave it up as too much trouble. Whose own mother's most fervent advice to her upon moving out was "Don't have children" (Grandma had seven). But Mom wanted _us_ to have children. I hesitate to say "Misery loves company," because Mom loved us and was good to us. But sometimes I wonder...
The only thing I might suggest: somehow, it sounds like your in-law and your dad are getting to you, at least to the point where you dread these conversations. I say, try to start treating it like a joke. And actually, it is a joke. They're trying to make you value yourself only as someone who can and will have children. And that's actually a very silly attitude that deserves little respect. Unless you have a farm and need cheap labor or something....
|