About Heather Camlot
A freelance writer, crafts junkie and mom of two, Heather Camlot is constantly on the lookout for that elusive work-life balance she hears so much about. Read about Heather's never ending search for five minutes to herself while trying to meet deadlines, make the school bus and raise two fantastic children.
There are right ways and wrong ways to tell the people you love that you’re pregnant.
It was my mother’s birthday and I had travelled to Montreal to celebrate. At dinner, I presented her with a scarlet-red beaded frame, with a photo of our brand-new washer and dryer. Then I told her there was another picture underneath. Surprise: the ultrasound. The frame immediately got passed around the table for all to see. Hugs, laughter and congratulations ensued.
Meanwhile, Marc, who was in Toronto, faxed his parents the ultrasound image to their hotel lobby in Hawaii (we wanted to tell all the parents at the same time), and we can only imagine the staff ran straight to their room -- he received a fax with a big happy face sketch almost immediately!
But here’s the thing – and how the idea for this blog came to be. My friend Julie informed me last week that her little brother and wife are pregnant. I congratulated her. Then she said – yeah, I found out on Facebook. Ugh.
I can understand people wanting to share the fantastic news as quickly and as widely as possible, but Facebook? With your immediate family? Personally, I think that’s just wrong, as innocent as the post may have been. So would sharing the news via Twitter, MySpace, a blog post, text message, etc.
Sure, a fax may not be personal, but Marc’s parents were actually expecting him to fax some important documents so we thought it would at least be funny. Using a social networking site just isn’t funny. And, based on the look of disappointment on Julie’s face – even though she blew it off in words – using such a site to relate one of the most important moments in your life to your own flesh and blood is callous.
I’m not saying you have to share the news in person if your family lives far away. But at the very least pick up the phone (everyone still has one of those in this tech age, right?) so both parties can hear the excitement the other feels. Save Facebook for the pictures and the day-to-day updates after baby’s born.
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