Survival

Well, the birthday party went ok. I made the mistake of going to a major department store to purchase a gift, and was shocked to see EVERYONE seemed to be out shopping! Needless to say by the time I made it through the lines I was a bit late.

All in all things went pretty well. I just didn't talk much, and tried to listen in on any "non-baby" conversation that happened to be going on.

I think the prep-work I did before I went helped a bit. After searching the web, I found a few one liners I was ready to try if asked why I don't have kids. I probably had a look in my eye daring them to ask the inevitable, and thus didn't have to use any this time, but plan to keep them in my arsenal for later. Here are a few of my favorites:

1. Oh, I can't bear children. (Let them figure out what I mean.)
2. I don't know, I see so many examples of bad parenting, I'm not sure if I want to expose a child to other children.
3. Why? Are you finally sick of talking about yours? (I could never say this, but it is funny.)
4. After we stop practicing.
5. Are you looking to buy?

Once when someone asked if I had kids I replied "No, but it's not for lack of trying." (This was right after a failed IVF attempt.) I realized since they didn't know I had gone through IVF it sounded pretty bad, however it pretty much shut them up.