Keeping My Mouth Shut

So I know it is a little late to be dealing with New Year's resolutions but I never keep them anyway so I'm just going to call this my list of things not to say in the coming year. As I got thinking about things I wanted on this list, more and more had to deal with me keeping my mouth shut or wishing I had the guts to tell others to shut their own traps.

So here is to 2008 - the year I try to learn to think before I speak - and hope others learn to do the same...

1. Never EVER will I say to a pregnant woman - "I bet you're ready to have that baby aren't you?". Or anything along those lines.

Now anyone that knows me probably knows that I loved being pregnant. Don't take me wrong, in the beginning I was up close and personal with my toilet bowl more often than I'd like to remember, and toward the end I was certain my ribs would burst - but overall I loved it. What I didn't love, however, was having to endure with a smile on my face endless comments about if I was sick of being pregnant. NO - but I am sick of having people ask me that! Besides, it's a stupid question anyway. If you can't say anything that's not stupid, don't say anything at all.

2. "Is your baby sleeping through the night?"

Please, PLEASE, I beg everyone I know that is reading this to never ask me (or anyone) this. It is a horrible question. If you want to ask a polite question about the baby - ask if he is, I don't know, pooping regularly. Just do not ask if he is sleeping through the night. (For the record, he is NOT and guess what - I am totally ok with it!)

Moving away from the baby-related stuff momentarily...

3. "What an idiot!"

Working with people on probation and parole, I probably say this at least a dozen times a day as I learn of something new offenders have done to mess up their success in life. However, it is not my job to judge them and I hope I can do better with this one. They may be idiots - but I don't have to announce it.

Now on to things I wish I had the guts to say...

1. "Shut the hell up!"

Ok so that may be a litle harsh, but I know I'm going to blow up and say it some day. Whether I am talking to my co-workers, distant (or close) family members, or some stranger on the street who has an opinion about how I am raising my son - shut the hell up! In the past 6 months nothing has astounded me more than how protective I am of that child and the way Dave and I choose to raise him. It is only a matter of time before I snap at someone and it won't be pretty - however I believe I'll feel much better.

2. "No."

Yeah, I'm pretty much a doormat - as indidcated above. If someone gives me advice that has to do with Logan that is outdated or not in my plans, I just nod and say "Yeah, I'll try it, thanks!" If someone asks me to do something I really don't want to do, "Sure, no problem!" If I do manage to have an excuse to get out of something and the person looks at me with even the slightest look of disappointment I immediately say something like, "But I'm sure I could make it work for you..." Some day I will learn how to say No, and I hope it's this year.

3. Say what I mean and mean what I say.

I've always looked up to people that speak their mind. And you know what I've noticed, other people like them too. Not everyone, but not everyone likes me anyway (shocker, I know), so why not give them a good excuse? I've noticed that people that speak their mind, get what they want. Squeaky wheel = grease right?

So how is that for a rambling post, but guess what? I feel better. Although none of the people I am referring to know this blog exists and won't know how I feel unless I tell them, at least I can feel better knowing that it is out there. And maybe, just maybe, I will have the guts to tell them off someday. Oh and the part about calling offenders idiots - I'm going to work on that too...