Oh Facebook

Oh the imfamous Facebook. Oh how we love it and hate it all at once.  It's great for easily keeping up with friends and checking in on old classmates without the dreaded class reunions.  It's great for being quickly updated on everything from the weather to what your best friend from kindergarten had for lunch.  I for one love it.  I'm not a frequent poster but I like feeling connected to people when I'm too busy to pick up a phone and talk.  I can just quickly scan the newsfeed while putting my kid to bed and feel somewhat informed about the world.  BUT, oh Facebook, you can be hard to look at sometimes.  I mean you're updated on what people ate for lunch(do you care?).  And we all know some of those old classmates are crazy and share way too much.

And then there are the pregnancy announcements.

Where do these fall?  I'm just gonna be honest and say for me they fall somewhere in the middle these days.  Sure. I'm happy for these families.  All babies are blessing and most of the ones I see are responsible adults that will take good care of their children.  But every time I see one of these now I feel like part of me is crushed.  I want to make that announcement.  It's not that I want it to be me
 instead of them.  I want it to be me with them.  It's a reminder of what I don't have.  Even some of my  good friends that I am thrilled for, it hurts a little every time I see a new pregnancy picture or update. I know it's selfish but especially when their kids are younger than mine and I know we've been trying longer than they have.  Again, I'm happy they're pregnant and growing their families but when do I get to do the same.  Now that I think about it I'm glad for Facebook because it would be hard to hear all of these updates in person and not let the pain show on my face.
Now I know some people would say just stay away from Facebook or hide peoples updates if you don't want to see it.  But instead I just try to control my own feeling and share in their happiness (mostly unsuccessfully).  It doesn't help that so many of my friends are pregnant right now or have newborns. I know it's just because we're at the age where people are starting families but it seems like there's anew announcement weekly.  As of now there are 20 pregnant women on my friends list that have made announcements.  That's just direct friends. Of course there are also announcements of children and siblings to look forward to as well.  Oh well, I guess it will be me again one day.  Until then I'll just make a game of guessing baby genders and who will announce next to entertain me and try to focus on the positive.
Here's to all of the 2015 Facebook newborn pictures to come!