Ahhh, the holiday season is upon us. Time to put on the elastic waistband pants, pull out the cookbooks, and invite the relatives. Nothing like family togetherness to warm our hearts and raise our cortisol levels. Like it or not, many of you will need to arm yourself for the annual onslaught of questions about your family building—or lack thereof. So, to lighten the mood, we offer you our Holiday Infertility Bingo game. We’ve included two cards so you and your spouse can both play. Winner gets bragging rights and the first glass out of the really good bottle of wine that you have reserved for yourself when (if?) you survive the holidays. Enjoy! Oh, and please share any additional comments we should include on future versions of this game.
This blog was originally posted on November 20, 2012.
“Warm our hearts and raise our cortisol levels” i liked this phrase <3
I agree with Dawn, the best thing to say is a simple, ‘I’m sorry” Heck, I appreciated the honesty when people would say “I don’t even know what to say” It’s honest, direct and let me know they cared enough to listen but just felt lost by it all too, esp when it came to learning about any miscarriages I had.
hilarious and sad at the same time! 🙂
Christi, I agree.
Kitti, I’m glad you commented because I think you are right on so many levels. Often people don’t respond the way we wish they would because they don’t know what to say and don’t want to step on our toes. Sometimes the best thing to say is that you are so sorry they are going through this.
I certainly don’t think it’s a dirty word, but often I just don’t know the “right” way to reopsnd when someone mentions they are struggling with infertility. I don’t struggle with it and I don’t have that pain so I don’t know what sorts of things to say that wouldn’t make me seem ignorant or cause more pain. I think that’s the biggest thing that would cause an awkward silence by me. Not that infertility is a dirty word. It’s more that it’s a painful word and I don’t want to say something that would hurt.
Hi from ICLW…so true!!!
Wow, “probably has to do with being so slutty”? (To paraphrase…) I guess I’m lucky I hadn’t heard that before. Good God!
Yes Anon, I suppose it is good to realize that others have it worse. 🙂
Hilarious but sad how many of these we’ve all heard on a regular basis.
Hilarious!
Here from ICLW by the way.
Dr. Spouse, hilarious in a sad sort of way, right? Thanks.