Post prego friend categories

So I've realized that from the moment you tell the world you're oven is with bun, the universe will send you Negative Nellies, Encouraging Emmas, No-kid Katherines and Desperately Seeking Pregnancy Peggys. Then of course, there are the grandparents, but that's an entirely separate post.

Negative Nellies:

The people scaring you with miscarriage stories, statistics and birth horror stories (of labor and delivery, tragic pregnancies or anecdotal "my friend's cousin had a kid with 3 eyeballs" stories). I try to tune them out, but every once in a while, they'll catch hold and send me into a whirlwind of panic. I simply oblige them by fake listening and nodding at appropriate pauses. Negative Nellies can also present you with many "if this, then this" statements. For example, if you drink ANY alcohol during your pregnancy, then you will have a severely retarded child. They usually follow it up with a supposed real life example of this. I usually deal with these by going home and downing shots of vodka just to prove them wrong (ok, this IS a joke, please don't get all judgemental on me). Negative Nellies can usually also be grouped in with the Judgemental Judies.

Encouraging Emmas: 

Usually new(er) moms around your age group that are really awesome at giving practical advice and being there for any questions, however stupid they may seem. I seem to notice a pattern of having one or several kids under the age of 5. I assume their bitter, "my kids stole my chance of being an independent, freewheeling spirit" vibes haven't kicked in as they have in the Negative Nellies. They send cute little notes, enjoy attending baby showers AND watching the others open baby gifts, offer to loan you maternity clothes and/or hand me downs to your future bundle of joy. Great group for obvious reasons.

No Kid Katherines:

Your childless friends that either have no intention of getting knocked up in the near future, or no intention of ever having kids. Sort of an awkward bunch to proclaim any new baby developments to. If you're me, you find yourself completely avoiding giving any updates on the pregnancy. They may or may not be feigning interest in your uterus and it's latest habits and inhabitants, but how do you know for sure? Still great friends, but I find myself trying to keep preggo conversations to a minimum, wearing less belly hugging clothes in their presence and trying my best to fight my new 9pm bedtime to attend the occasional event or concert. They're actually really great in keeping a good balance and preventing a total collapse into the pregnancy/kids abyss and helping you enjoying pre-baby life as much as possible.

Desperately Seeking Pregnancy Peggys:

They're similar to the Encouraging Emmas in the fact that they are extremely happy for you (and seemingly mean it). They are on the parenthood path and already planning play dates in their heads. They tend to give the best shower gifts (knowing you will reciprocate one day in the not so distant future), are super excited about any and all updates and ask you all kind of questions about what you're going through. I know this, because prior to September, I was a Desperately Seeking Pregnancy Peggy. 

So ladies, now you know the categories your friends and family will fall under, some will fall under several of the categories, some in between... Now that you (and I) are Pregnant Pollys, we can enjoy the company of all of the above (even the Negative Nellies can be fun at times).