How Are You Today?
So I noticed that the worse I feel, the more people come to ask me, “How are you feeling today?” I mostly just try to smile and say, “Pregnant.” That’s something a lady who had a pile load of kids taught me to say last spring. It has been immensely helpful. Seriously. What else am I supposed to say? What do they expect me to say?
Here are a few of the things I have had the wonderful self-control not to keep to myself so far. That’s why I’m posting them online. End of self-control. Hahaha.
- I feel like a bag of barf.
- I keep tasting my breakfast, over and over again. And my lunch. And my dinner.
- My brain feels like it’s full of barf.
- Your perfume makes me want to barf. GET AWAY FROM ME RIGHT NOW OR I WILL BARF ON YOU!!
You get the idea.
The baby is in the midst of heavy teething (three months of pain and nothing to show for it yet) so she woke up crying 5 times last night. I had to go to the bathroom 5 times last night. I have not had more than an hour of consecutive sleep for a week. This past week, I have barely been able to drag my carcass out of bed. Today is the first time in what feels like FOREVER that I didn’t feel sick all day. I think it’s because we went out late last night for Japanese food (kake udon for EIGHT DOLLARS … about five times as much as I would pay in Japan *sob*) and my stomach was comforted by something familiar. Thank you, God.
And btw, you have no idea how blessed you are to go through your day without burping lemon-flavoured cod liver oil in your mouth all day. OK, yes, TMI, TMI.
I had more than 10 people ask me on Sunday how I felt when I was so sick I had trouble smiling. I appreciate that people cared, but I wished they would say something else, anything else. I am not used to being asked that so much. I have trouble answering.
Berek called last night and we talked about the never-ending “How are you” questions in America. He pointed out that it is embedded in American language and culture. It is rude and unfriendly not to ask, especially when someone looks sick or injured. It’s not like in Japan or China where your friends will offer comments of commiseration on how you obviously feel so you just nod or give monosyllabic acknowledgment.
For the record, I don’t think it’s right or wrong either way. People in various times and places have different ways of expressing their love and care. I understand that. I just don’t know how to respond to the American ways sometimes and feel really stupid and frustrated when I don’t know what to say.
“How Are You Today?” has been splattered on 7 times.
aw, hang in there Emeth!
Hmm, funny, someone just accosted me just yesterday when I was clearly in a hurry and clearly agitated and threw the same barb at me: How are you?
How am I? I’ll just assume that’s a rhetorical question.
:)
Hang in there my dear friend.
You can always answer with a riddle:
“What’s gross and sounds like a dog?”
“Barf, barf, barf”
Some people will guess the answer immediately, and even if you have to give the answer, at least there’s enough humor in it . . .
I’ll be praying that your dog will calm down ASAP.
You’ll feel better soon, honey.
I just give people a haggard look and tell them TIRED. And they say Ohhhh and sort of don’t know what to say about that and shuffle off. And I’m so busy with other things that I tend to forget an awkward moment just happened and that it might need repairing.
Being pregnant with only one toddler in the house? I miss that. I can’t think of anything easier. Well, perhaps being pregnant with NO BABIES in the house. Ah, remember that? Bliss.
I’m in love with your babyticker, by the way. Almost makes me want to get pregnant.
emethhesed
emeth.hesed
Angie B. | 6:57 AM, Friday, December 14, 2007
Emeth: How are you?
Just kidding. But as far as answering that question, I think you are doing it just right.
That’s interesting about the different ways those in Japan or China would respond. Can you give an example of what they would say? “You don’t look well,” or something like that?
What other big differences in mannerisms or language have you noticed? I once had a friend from Egypt who liked to get right up in my face to talk. I was always inching backwards to increase my “personal space,” but she would just follow me! :-)
Anyway, hope the sickness passes soon.