I'm planning to hibernate until this is over...

As I mentioned in a previous post, I recently took over our Young Marrieds group. It's a ministry through our church that we joined as newly, newly newlyweds as a way of meeting more couple friends.

Since then, we've made tons of very wonderful friends through this group. Most of us even became new parents within a year or two of one another. Being good Catholics, that's not a big surprise.

The previous leaders are close friends of ours and when they said they were tired of running it, I (naturally) stepped up.

Taking on tasks that no one else is inclined to is some sort of sickness I have. I had the dubious honor of being the team leader on EVERY, SINGLE project I was involved in while in grad school...and it wasn't because I'm a control freak or megalomaniac either. In fact, I rather like to delegate. It was because the team needed running and no one else wanted to do it... (sigh.)

To save my sanity, I decided to split the responsibility of planning events and activities with another couple. I primarily function as the main contact for the group. As such, I receive e-mails and phone calls from new couples looking to join.

Last week, I received an e-mail from a wife looking to do just that... except her note went on to ask if I knew any good marriage counselors. With one toddler and another on the way, the wife was looking to get help fast... and for free (!!!).

I don't know about "free", but I could certainly refer several good marriage counselors (from second-hand recommendations, not personal experience, thankyouverymuch)

When I called her to explain that we're actaully a social organization that does not offer counseling, she acted very awkward and simply told me that she would call back...

My gut is telling me that she's a bit embarrassed about revealing so much to a complete stranger. I hope for the sake of their family that she was just having a "pregnancy moment" and not in any real marital turmoil...

During my pregnancy, there were several occassion when I feared my child would grow up father-less, because I COULD HAVE KILLED MY HUSBAND! It was usually for something innocent that he had no idea would set me (and my raging hormones) off. At the time, I would get so upset and vent to anyone that would give me two minutes.

In retrospect, I guess none of them were that "critical" since at the moment, I can't even provide one example. Months of sleep deprevation will do that.

All this comes to mind because... well, I now have TWO friends that are pregnant with their seconds. Yep, last week, another couple we know joyfully announced that they're exepcting again (!!!)

Again, I am very excited for BOTH of my friends, but for one of them... seeing that "+" sign activated some sort of "bitch switch" in her brain. Not even showing yet, she's started making demands to be seated ahead of everyone else waiting for a table at restaurants, only to make her husband drive her some place else if they won't...

Three weeks ago, she was making fun of women that did that...

She has started believing that anyone who mentions pregnancy is trying to "compete" with her... and she keeps badgering me if I've told anyone else about her "news".

"No, for the fifteenth time, that is YOUR news to tell... I don't do things like that"

This is going to be a LOOOOOONG nine months.