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Tick Tock, Tick Tock.

I have been hearing that sound quite a bit recently and it seems to be getting louder and louder.

Let me explain- the tick tock which seems to be sounding ever more incessantly is not my bedside clock. It is the sound of my biological clock, reminding me of its presence and its unwillingness to be ignored.

Tick Tock, Tick Tock.                            

This is not the first time I have heard it. However, truth be told, I had always found ways to ignore it-  turning the volume up on my ipod usually did the trick.  But, it seems that no longer works.

The first tick came about 3 years ago when one of my friends from school had a baby. Now, as beautiful as the baby was, and as proud and honored as I was to be made Godmother, it was still pretty easy to ignore the call of my own biological clock. There were so many elements which made motherhood seem so undesirable, namely a labour experience which made The Exorcist seem like a feel good comedy rather than the gore-fest it really was.

So if my friends entry into motherhood was the tick, the tock certainly soon followed. It came in the form of people’s sudden interest into when I would be next. I don’t know what it is about new mothers, but it seems as though as soon as they give birth they feel the need to insist that all those around them ‘join the club’. Within a couple of days, I had my friend telling me that it was definitely my turn to become a mother.... What was most amusing to me was the fact that in the same breath that she was telling me of the wonderment of motherhood, she was also steadily complaining of the  “pure stress and headaches” that having a baby brings. What would make her think that that would make the possibility seem MORE attractive?

And then it happened... my younger sister got in on the act. I’m 24 going on 25, she’s 16 going on 35, and because we have a close relationship she feels she can get all up in my business. I was sort of immune to her hints of wanting me to get married and have children ("like now!"). But, she really outdid herself recently, almost sending me into near cardiac arrest, when over breakfast she casually dropped the following: “when are you planning on getting pregnant? I would like a little someone to play with.” (All I had asked her to do was pass the OJ!)

Once I recovered, and managed to pick myself off of the floor, I explained to her, in no uncertain terms, why I am not in any great rush to join the other mother hens in the coup. It seems that my wanting to wait until i was fully able to provide a stable home for this child wasn't acceptable. Somehow, she was projecting her own wishes for motherhood on me. And when she retorted, "well you better start thinking about it soon, you're not getting any younger you know", it was a struggle, but i successfully managed to restrain myself from boxing her clean in the mouth.

Kids. Who'd have 'em?

Onyx Knight

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