Take your judgements and...

We're all different. We have different experiences, different likes, different dislikes, different tolerances and different ways of thinking. And, put those all together, we each end up making different decisions.

What may be good for me, may not be the right decision for you. The same goes for the other way around. I don't judge you for your decisions, so please don't judge me. Cause if you do, I'll likely tell you where to go and the quickest way to get there.

So, we've begun telling folks about, as Mr. Oh calls it, "my situation" (I try to remind him I didn't get here by myself, but whatever). The reactions have been wonderful, and the love and support we've received from our family has been unbelievable. But, as I'm coming to learn, as you open up this particular Pandora's box, everyone has a question or an opinion. And, it seems they don't have any fear in sharing.

I'll answer your questions - as long as they aren't the same ones (I'm a rather impatient gal) - and I'll listen to your opinions. But, in no way does this mean you can judge my answers or decisions.

Let me give you an example, we decided to start our family in the US. A decision that has shocked and dismayed many Canadians. Now, before you judge my decision and inform me of the 1 year mat leave policy granted to women working in Canada, let me remind you that I live in the US and more significant to this point, I work in the US.

Do you think I can just jump back over the border, get a job, find a place to live, etc with the snap of my finger. And, once I do all that, remind my new employer that, oh yeah, I'm not just a little chubby and within 6 months I'll need a year off? It don't work like that!

And, really while the 1 year mat leave sounds wonderful and I'll likely complain when I'm back at work pumping milk in the mommy room, not having 1 year off is not the end of the world (for me or the child; especially considering that the 1 year mat leave was only granted in the last decade). And, maybe, just maybe, we've considered our options and came to the responsible decision that the privilege of schlepping a year off work (yes, I know you're nurturing your babe) was an easy sacrifice to make for the possible privileges the child may enjoy down the road?

Maybe, eh?