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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7 |
One of my co-workers announced the fact that he and his wife are expecting a baby in 6 months. Our office (mostly women) has gone ape over this and has already started bombarding the guy with goodies. At our last staff meeting, the boss presented him with a book "The Expectant Father's Survival Kit" or something like that along with a picture frame for (you're going to love this!) the ultrasound photo! FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, THE KID'S NOT EVEN BORN YET!! Not to mention the fact that his wife is only a little over 3 months along and a LOT can happen between now and then. Anyway, an e-mail went through the office "suggesting" that we could make a donation for the book & frame. I didn't give one DIME to this project because I work in a Federal office where the only legal charity drive is the Combined Federal Campaign. Is there anyone out there who has any suggestions on this one? I have a feeling the "gifts" are going to multiply exponentially! PS. I am a woman and I find my office mates' behavior repulsive. Ever since our original office was merged with another, I feel like I've joined a sorority and there's a reason why I didn't join one in college! 
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 982
Parakeet
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Parakeet
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 982 |
It is a natural reaction for people to get excited about the expectant birth of a child of someone they know. This is especially true if it is the first child for that person. True, your office is a bit ahead of the game and maybe going a bit overboard, but let them enjoy. If it bothers you don't participate, but Don't ruin it for everyone else. If you do you could create bad feelings against you from you coworkers. Take it in stride. This won't last forever. So, ingore it if you don't like it, but let your co-workers enjoy it while they can.
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 197
Jellyfish
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Jellyfish
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 197 |
I had a friend at work whose girl friend/ wife (they got married during hte pregnancy) was expecting. My friend was very excited so I was excited for him. He did bring in the ultrasound late in the pregnancy to show us and actually I thought it was kinda neat, it was in color and new technology is intersting. I also didnt mind getting him a gift for the shower as they needed the help and were very nice about it. I agree though 3 mo and getting gifts allready is nuts, what if she looses the baby, he will feel awful. I can understand collecting for a gift certificate (optional donation of course) at the end of the pregancy or better yeat after the birth
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 235
Shark
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Shark
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 235 |
I agree that 3 months into the pregnancy is waay to early to start celebrating. So much can go wrong. (My cousin's baby actually died when she was 9 months pregnant - what a nightmare!).
Anyways, while I don't love kids and think babies are ugly, I do like buying baby stuff because it's sooo darn cute(weird huh?). So, I have some fun buying a great gift to give at the shower, and enjoy eating the cake (yum!). I skip all the oohing and aaahing and ignore the baby when they bring it in.
I guess what I'm saying is... participate or don't participate, whatever you are comfortable with. No one can force you to contribute. Just let the other stuff wash over you. In an office full of women you are always going to have the majority of them drooling over babies and going chick crazy whenever someone is pregnant. I don't understand it, but it seems to be a fact of life. I just try to ignore it. Turn up the radio? Go for a coffee break? Call a friend on the phone? Do something that makes you happy.
Have a great day!
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 296
Shark
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Shark
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 296 |
You have my sympathy, for whatever that's worth.
I tend to deal with these situations by quietly sneaking away.
You've reminded me of an advantage of working in male-dominated fields. It's interesting that men don't get nearly as worked up over pregnancy, nor do they prattle on endlessly about their children. Then again, most of them do very little of the actual parenting.
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 742
Gecko
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Gecko
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 742 |
I wish I could offer something constructive, but I fear I can't.
I also work in a male dominated field. Even so, we've had a couple men be baby-obsessed wackos (like the one guy with 6 kids who would not leave me alone about it). Mostly they just think a woman shouldn't work once she has kids. Even one of my male coworkers with kids gets little comments because his wife works and they take turns with sick kids, doctor appts., etc.
However, we're across the hall from a large gov't agency of mostly women, and our secretary gives me daily updates on the preg. women from their office. One day I just said, if it's someone I'm close to, I'm fine with baby talk, but otherwise, it just doesn't apply to or interest me. Of course I was nice about it, but I think I made my point.
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 188
Jellyfish
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Jellyfish
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 188 |
I work in an office with 3 other people. My boss is as adamantly childfree as I am. The other fellow and his wife adopted a girl from China when the girl was 18 months old. The girl is 11 now. This fellow is quiet by nature and rarely says anything about his daughter. The secretary used to ramble on about her grandkids. Before I met my girlfriend she would occasionally tell me "you never know, you'll change your mind someday." I had the last laugh telling her that the $200 for a vasectomy was the best $200 I ever spent! No more grandkid stories from the secretary. Mike One of my co-workers announced the fact that he and his wife are expecting a baby in 6 months. Our office (mostly women) has gone ape over this and has already started bombarding the guy with goodies. At our last staff meeting, the boss presented him with a book "The Expectant Father's Survival Kit" or something like that along with a picture frame for (you're going to love this!) the ultrasound photo! FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, THE KID'S NOT EVEN BORN YET!! Not to mention the fact that his wife is only a little over 3 months along and a LOT can happen between now and then. Anyway, an e-mail went through the office "suggesting" that we could make a donation for the book & frame. I didn't give one DIME to this project because I work in a Federal office where the only legal charity drive is the Combined Federal Campaign. Is there anyone out there who has any suggestions on this one? I have a feeling the "gifts" are going to multiply exponentially! PS. I am a woman and I find my office mates' behavior repulsive. Ever since our original office was merged with another, I feel like I've joined a sorority and there's a reason why I didn't join one in college!
SCREW OPEC AND RIDE A BIKE!
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