I’m not sure if I ever ask the sleeping stuff any more because it’s annoying in its inanity (is that a word? I’m not sure, but it works.) But I do listen closely to the response when other people ask it. “Why?” you might ask? Because to me, how you react is the beginning of your cocoon. A catepillar must wrap his cocoon in several layers, and wrap it tightly. so that when he is a butterfly he must fight to remove it. The fight, struggle, and release is what makes his body and wings strong enough to fly. There is no way a catepillar can “practice” this struggle because he does not have wings. He must wait until the transition is made for him. That’s what I think of the sleeping thing…people try to empathize with your upcoming struggle into parenthood (which is easily represented by the dramatic shift in sleeping patterns) but they are powerless to offer any better suggestions because there is no way to practice until the transition is made for you. In their own uncreative way, this is the way people welcome you to the parenthood club, and to give you hints on how to pass the rite of initiation. Unfortunately for some people, the transition is the hardest one they’ve ever had to face. I know that’s not the case for you, so I trust you’ll be fine.

The thing that bugs me about the sleeping question is that it’s all out of proportion. People make it sound like not only will you be up for 98 hours pacing with a howling hell-child, but you will be doing it across a bed of burning hot glass shards while performing “God save the Queen” on a picalo in front of her majesty’s royal court. It’s not that bad and your comments indicate you know that. It’s also not the roses, flowers, “blowing raspberries on the bottoms of its chubby feet,” and butterflies, glowing transformation into parental enlightenment that the Motherhood-Made-Easy books would have you think either. You know that too. But trust me, two years from now, you’ll be surprised at the breadth of change you have experienced that you didn’t anticipate.

Keep in mind too, it’s all practice. The other comments here are right. There is no end to annoying comments, suggestions, and actions people will subject you to now that you’re a parent. It’s the in-laws, stepfamilies, and relatives and their old-school ways, it’s your babyhaving friends and their competitiveness, it’s the daycare providers who are trying to earn a raise by showing their boss that for 8 hours they can rear a child better than even a parent can, it’s the stranger who rubs my daughter’s hair and tells me I must be lucky to have a husband with such fine features to pass on. By the time your baby is born, you will have quite the repository of witty responses to almost any annoying inquiry. With your mental powers of wit combined, I’m looking forward to hearing what you and Landa come up with.

Ok, it’s getting late here and I should go. Besides…I’m sure you need your sleep while you still can….

I really think people just want to share the experience/get in on a conversation with you or they don’t know what else to say in regards to pregnancy/babies. Sometimes I don’t and I sound like a complete ass by saying “Oh well, enjoy your sleep NOW LOLOLOL”. So please forgive my bumbling self.

I completely understand WHY it gets on your nerves. I’d be ranting at times, too. But really. Just prepare yourself for more of it. People are going to get even more annoying after baby Pralle/first grandchild/niece/nephew/godchild is born. Y’all going to be stars with paparazzi and everyone is going to want to know everything ALL THE DAMN TIME. Heh. That’s how it goes.

Alynda – Thanks. It will be VERY exciting, we really wish there was a porthole on my wife’s tummy so we could wave.

Good luck not punching anyone in the face before (or after) the baby is born.