The other day, I was flipping through the Orlando Sentinel my town’s local newspaper, and came across a infertility article in the advice column, “Tell Me About It” (Thursday, April 3 issue). The columinist, Carolyn Hax, was away on vacation, so she turned her advice over to one of her readers.

Spoken like one who has been there, this reader, who signed off as Anywhere, beautifully shared her own perspective, and took issue with the assumptions that people make. Perhaps you too can see yourself in her words..

“On Infertility

Not all of us dealing with infertility are incapable of hearing about, celebrating, and enjoying others pregnancies. I completely understand women who are having difficulty–but pay attention to the woman before deciding to keep her out of the loop.

I’m tired of having ultrasound pictures hidden from me as I walk into a room. I just learned of a far-away relation’s pregnancy three days after the birth of her child because people ‘couldn’t bear’ to tell me she was pregnant. What a crock! I love kids. I do not begrudge anyone the joy of having them, anticipating them, celebrating them.

People, if you’re close enough to know a person is having fertility issues, you’re close enough to ask, “Do you want to see/be invited/hear about…” in relation to baby stuff. Thank you.”