“What is the theme of your nursery?”
“Oh, we don’t have one.”
Pause. Awkward silence. Disblief.
“Do you have any Winnie the Pooh or airplanes or frogs?”
“We have a little of everything. Bright colors, mostly.”
When I say we don’t have a theme, people often look at me as if I am saying my child sleeps in the silverware drawer. This compulsion to put people into boxes is astounding. It is particularly noticeable in baby clothing. Babies have the option of wearing pink daisies or blue tractors. Girl or boy. One side of the spectrum of femininity to the other of masculinity. Where’s the in-between?
Experiencing infertility put me on a heightened awareness of the need for comebacks. People… say things… usually without thinking… a lot… I have yet to master the timing of comebacks, usually they come to me five days after the insensitive remark, however, recently a comeback came out of my mouth in the actual moment I needed it to. Someone asked me how much time I plan on taking off to be with my son and, because I write and go to school, my time doesn’t fit into prescribed blocks. So I said:
“You can’t put me in a box.” (Said in the same tone as “Nobody puts Baby in a corner.”)
Cheesy, yes, but it is surprisingly effective. I think it can be used in many contexts. I plan on using it all the time. Hopefully you can, too.
