Tick Tock Biological Clock

A guest post from Christine, my young singleton friend:

So why, oh why would anyone want to read a blog post from me? No reason. Just the musings of a single 20-something whose biological clock is ticking louder than my Bob Marley "Could you be love?" ring tone (note the symbolism)…trust me, it’s loud. Or is it? Upon reflection, I don’t believe it to be as loud as I am told it should be. As a matter of fact, I almost cringe at the thought of putting down my bowl of ice cream and getting up from the couch during "Sex and the City" re-runs to stop a baby from crying, or worse yet, to wipe poop off a cute little hiney. I think I reached the epitome of this decision today, actually, when I walked into the classroom.

I teach adult education at a technical school and I was subbing for a World Culture class tonight (the topic, you ask? Female Genital Mutilation, but I digress…) At any rate, there was this strange cardboard doll on the desk, standing upright with yarn for nose and eyes. It was wearing a necklace and belt made from beads and looked like something I created from mom’s craft box when I was 8. "What’s that?" I asked, knowing it must be a prop for the students’ presentations. "That’s a fertility doll. In some cultures, if a woman is having trouble conceiving, they carry that doll around and treat it as they would their baby. It helps them get pregnant." Not only did I shudder as my student spoke, but I loudly entreated, "Yeah, can someone get that off my desk? I want to make sure I don’t touch it."

Ok, I’m not superstitious, but according to my mom, at our house if you say the word pregnant three times and click your heels together, you will be not only with child, but a toddler will also appear at your side. Being an unmarried Catholic (and therefore presumably still as pure as the driven snow) this would not be acceptable. No one moved the cardboard proxy, however, to my dismay. I accidentally touched it with a manila folder as I shuffled papers around, though. I will let you know how things turn out in 9 months or so.