In addition to connecting with those in various stages of infertility treatment, I'd also like to reach out and engage those in the fertile myrtle world.  You know who you are...

You've never once questioned the importance of your FSH level (and more than likely didn't even know you possessed an FSH in the first place). You've never toted injectable hormones and alcohol wipes in a cooler to a dinner party or picnic so that you could sneak off to the rest room to get your twice daily hormone shot on time, and you have no idea what it might be like to have your eggs harvested under general anesthesia.  All of this and more only to find out at the end of cycle that despite your best efforts only one pink line materialized on the pregnancy test. So it's back to the drawing board and a chance to start all over again — assuming your bank account can afford another $12,000-$15,000 hit.

So, gather 'round fertile ones. I have stories and experiences to share. Hopefully from them you'll come to appreciate how awkward and uncomfortable those mommy and daddy tales can be for some.  First let's start with a little conversation etiquette lesson.

1) When you're out at a party and meeting new people do you (a) immediately ask if those new someones have children (b) hang back to wait and see if the other person volunteers they have children (c) ignore whatever they have to say because you're too busy pulling the photos of your kids out of your wallet

Correct answer: (b) — if someone doesn't make a point of mentioning their children in the first 10 minutes they probably don't have them. Do you really want to make them uncomfortable by asking?

2) If you just launch right in and ask someone you've not met before "do you have kids?" are you (a) willing and prepared to hear the long and involved answer if it's a no (b) blown away when he/she tells you honestly that their uterus or sperm just won't cooperate (c) too dense to realize that the response when negative is likely to have layers of complexity.

Correct answer: Trick question. It’s (a) and (b)— don't assume that the question is a throw away or an ice breaker that allows you to talk about your kids. Keep in mind that it could elicit a complicated or emotional response.

3) If you're surrounded by women prattling on endlessly about their children and you see a woman hanging back and not saying anything do you (a) assume she's a stick in the mud and ignore her (b) try to top the kiddie stories with the latest antics of your own child (c) gracefully attempt to change the subject to something other than kids so that everyone can participate in the discussion.

Correct answer: (c) - could it be anything else??

I know we’re all more sensitive now to the feelings of those around us, yes? If not, let’s then start from the top and try again.  And if that doesn't work, try this: consider how you would feel if your little one was on the playground and the other little kids had a regular habit of making he/she uncomfortable or misunderstood. Now it's starting to make sense. Well, big people have feelings, too. Please consider who's around you the next time you launch into a mommy or daddy monologue.