Wednesday, June 17, 2009

No diapers, no applesauce, no strained peas. Please.

One of the really cool things about being a blogger is that people sometimes send me things to review. Why anyone would care about my opinion is way beyond my scope of comprehension, but apparently sometimes people listen to things I say. I wonder how I can get my husband and children on that list of people. But that's not important right now.

Lately, I've been inundated with requests to review baby products.

It's usually good things too. Things that, if I actually had a baby, I might enjoy receiving. Things that, way back when I had two babies, I really could have used.

I can't use them now.

Mostly, I delete these requests (along with those inviting me to showcase penile enlargement products), but for some reason this hit me particularly hard the other day.

To clarify:

1) I am grateful that anyone gives two craps about my opinion.
2) I am grateful for the free swag that I am offered.
3) I am grateful to have enough blog traffic to get offers.
4) I am genuinely grateful for people who read my blog.
5) I have secondary infertility.
6) I know that companies do not have sufficient resources to devote to reading each and every blog that may be considered a "mommy blog" and gets a lot of traffic, thus there is no way they know that I am infertile.

Still. It sucks.

It just SUCKS.

I can't just accept the stuff and give it to a homeless shelter either. I can't take it and pass it off to my pregnant friends. People who know me? Know I don't have a baby. People who read here? Have figured it out. You all wouldn't be tricked if I did a review of diapers. And you all are the ones that count.

It's not an assault. It's not an attack. It's nothing personal, at all. I know all that.

But I don't want to see it in my in-box.

Or anything about enlarging penises. That doesn't belong in my in-box either.

11 comments:

Unknown said...

argh!!! Nothing like a slap in the face, eh? I know they don't 'mean' anything by it, but doesn't mean it hurts any less... IF blows.

CPA Mom said...

that does suck. (hugs)

did you get the movies to review yet???

Anonymous said...

I am sorry. Infertility is hard enough without sponsors rubbing it in your face. I sometimes feel the same way with mommy-targeted TV or magazine marketing. The magazines in my OB/GYN's office are the worst, so I feel your pain, girl.

Also? It's great that studly Jason doesn't require penile enhancement. ;o)

eatmoresmores said...

I'm so sorry about the infertility. That's all that can be said, so sorry. Its one of the most unfair things in all of life. (at least that I've encountered in my 30-something years). As a fellow sufferer, I know how seemingly mundane stuff like diapers, applesauce, and strained peas can send the tears flowing. Wishing you success and peace...

Stephanie said...

I went through 3 years of infertility so I honestly know and remember your feelings. I hope things get easier for you!

Nicole said...

It's funny, people get so up in arms about political correctness and proper terminology, and yet insensitivity seems to be a cultural trait.

Kimberly Vanderhorst said...

Yeah, there's really no getting around it, is there? It sucks. It's not meant to. Like you said, it's not personal, and yet how can it not hurt like heck some days?

Faugh.

Lisa Chelle said...

sucks is the only word for infertility.

Anonymous said...

Im so sorry. It is already a hard thing to deal with but getting those emails just make it so much worse. I'd prefer to not get emails about enlarging body parts I don't have too LOL.

marythemom said...

To one of the most interesting women I know,

It's so hard to remember that it's not intentional. (I know your head knows this, but it's hard for the heart.)

When I feel hurt by someone or feel guilty about accidentally hurting someone (by words, deeds or e-mails) I have to remember that people who are always censoring themselves are not as interesting.

"Wanda, do you have any idea what it's like being English? Being so correct all the time, being so stifled by this dread of, of doing the wrong thing, of saying to someone "Are you married?" and hearing "My wife left me this morning," or saying, uh, "Do you have children?" and being told they all burned to death on Wednesday. You see, Wanda, we'll all terrified of embarrassment. That's why we're so... dead. Most of my friends are dead, you know, we have these piles of corpses to dinner. But you're alive, God bless you, and I want to be, I'm so fed up with all this."

Still, I'm so sorry that this is hurting you. I hope you feel better soon. You are an amazing, interesting person, and I love your blog!

Mary in Texas

Mary in Texas

The Nebulous One said...

Hey Stephanie,

Just a passing thought. I'm not a mother, leave alone married so perhaps i don't really understand your pain at not having more babies. But what i also don't understand is, why does it hurt you so when you have two of the most charming, sweet, caring, eyes-alight-with-life-and-a little naughty streak-twins whom you can love to your heart's content, and whom you can focus all your energies on? No matter how grown up they are, they will always be your babies, right? But, like i said, maybe there's something i'm missing here or that's beyond my comprehension.