A few nights ago I had a dream. I was with my kids at some gathering with other Catholic families. I didn’t know anybody and was engaged in that get-to-know-you small talk. Even though I was carrying Mary, now three months old (for real, but in my dream too), several women asked me how far along I was. “Sheesh,” I thought, “don’t they see the baby? Surely I look more postpartum than pregnant?”
Then I looked at one woman, and I realized, in that way that you can read minds in dreams, that she had seen the baby. The question was really their catty way of telling me that I should have more children, that I was a bad Catholic for not being pregnant again already. “I haven’t even started my cycles yet,” I thought in my own defense. But it didn’t matter. I was judged and condemned.
But it was just a dream. In real life, we try hard not to judge each other. In real life, we’re not catty. In real life, we don’t read minds.
And in real life, I don’t look three months pregnant. Right?
Reit This Way 
Maybe this is God’s way of telling you that you are about to start your period. Sorry, that was cruel of me.
You know it’s funny how serious and deep that conversation is right now…but in real life (that being when I got to church here on post) It’s obvious that most folks are either using NFP, are sterile, or they’re using birth control…cause I don’t know that many ladies (nor have I met many) who are just constantly pregnant. Sure I’ve met a few, but not a church full. Don’t sweat it, you’ve got more children than most, you’re certainly doing your part. And I highly doubt you still look pregnant.
I’d welcome looking pregnant if I’d just had a baby! Rejoice in the blessings. I love seeing large families!
Um. I’m catty sometimes…I do try not to be though… :-pHonestly, I thought you were going to say that they were being catty about you having had SO MANY kids, not too few! Kind of interesting to see the flip side of the equation. 🙂
I’m sure you look beautiful!
In real life, you glow. In real life, you smile and your face lights up. In real life, your mother peeks over your shoulder and whispers in your ear to remind you that her Son is listening and you shouldn’t even think that catty little thought.Your husband would agree that you never looked more beautiful than when you sacrificed how you look to bring another human being into the world.So whether it’s ten nagging pounds or ten catty words that make you wonder, you look beeee-youuuu-teee-ful! 🙂Mwah mwah (in the words of a wise woman)
I’m sure you don’t still look pg 🙂I just wanted to pop in and say that you are blessed to have such a beautiful family.Now I, on the other hand (with a 13 month old), still look 4 months preggo!! At least it feels that way . . .
I’d say if you look 3 months pregnant you look darn good, sistuh!
Incredible. You have dreams about people judging you about having not enough children while at the same time you have a large family. I have dreams about people judging me because I am unable to have them.I salute you. Even if you DID look pregnant, there’s certainly nothing more beautiful.
I’ve had that situation, sort of, in real life. And I did look three months pregnancy. *sigh* You look beautiful Michelle!