So I was chatting with some mums who have loads of kids, and honestly, I totally get why people find them a bit much sometimes.
“Im a mum of three, people should cut me some slack!”
“Love, no one forced you to have that many kidsnow let go of my jumper!”
Emily had always acted like the world owed her something. Shed been like this even back at uni, before shed started a family. But the moment she had kids? Completely lost the plot.
One. Then another. Then a third. Suddenly, they qualified as a “large family,” and off she went.
At first, Sophie thought Emily was just suffering from “baby brain”you know, when youve had kids and suddenly lose all sense of boundaries? Like everyone around you suddenly owes you favours and should be bowing at your feet.
“Can you believe it? I was queuing with the kids, and no one let me go first!” Emily ranted during one of their catch-ups.
“To be fair, theyre not obliged to. Some people are exhausted from work, others just want to get on with their day”
Emily cut her off before she could finish.
“Oh, come off it! They can wait. Its not like theyre as tired as I amthey dont even have kids!”
“And what makes you think only parents get tired?”
“Because Ive got three, so I know what Im talking about! But you wouldnt get ityouve never even had a baby!”
Emily was something else. She genuinely believed every woman *had* to have at least one childpreferably moreand it drove her up the wall when people disagreed.
Sophie, on the other hand, had always been firm about not wanting kids. And Emily, of course, just couldnt wrap her head around it.
Trying to explain her stance was like talking to a brick wall. Sophie wanted to *live*travel, build her career, learn new things. Her husband was completely on the same page, but Emily saw it as her personal mission to “fix” her friends wayward thinking.
“Youll be happier once you have one!”
“You just dont understand because youre not a mum!”
“Whos going to look after you when youre old if you dont have kids?”
Arguing was pointless, so Sophie stopped bothering.
Time passed, the kids grew a bit, and one day, Sophie went over for a catch-up. They talked for hoursit was obvious Emily was *starved* for adult conversation. Shed stopped developing herself, completely swallowed up by nappies and school runs. Sophies husband always wondered what on earth they even had to talk about, but somehow, they found things.
“Emily, what do you actually want from life? Like, once your kids are grownwhat then?”
“What do you mean? Ill help *them*. Before I know it, Ill have grandkids!”
Sophie was baffled but pressed on.
“And what about *you*? Dont you want anything just for yourself?”
“What for? My kids *are* my life. Everythings for them. Oh, speaking ofdid you know were eligible for more benefits now?”
Naturally, Emily steered the conversation right back to her favourite topic. She always did that when she didnt want to answer uncomfortable questions.
Honestly, she *always* got her way, no matter what.
After a while, Sophie actually felt embarrassed being seen with her in publicespecially after one particular incident.
Theyd gone shopping, and Emily had dragged the kids along. She was after a new jumpersome big sale was on. Sophie wandered off to look at something else but came running back when she heard shouting. And not just any shouting*Emilys* shouting.
Her jaw dropped when she saw Emily yanking a jumper out of some womans hands. A woman Sophie *knew*her coworker, though Emily had never met her.
“Im a mum of threeyou should let me have this!”
“Sweetheart, no one *made* you have three kidsgive me back my jumper!”
Sophie grabbed Emilys arm.
“Emily, stop! Everyones staringhave some shame for the kids sake!”
Her coworker gave her a look.
“Wow, Sophie didnt realise you had friends like *this*.”
That was the moment it hit herEmily wasnt just embarrassing herself. She was embarrassing *Sophie* too.
You know what they sayyoure judged by the company you keep. And Emilys antics werent exactly a one-off.
After that, Sophie started distancing herself. She didnt have the heart for a full-blown argument, so she just made excuseswork was mad, no time to meet.
But Emily, ever the drama queen, *created* a reason to fight. One evening, she turned up at Sophies door, fuming over nothing.
“Youre not even going to explain yourself?”
“Explain *what*?”
Sophie expected some rant about her being distant, but noEmilys issue was *completely* unexpected.
“I saw your sister yesterday. With her kid.”
“And?”
“That coat her little girl was wearing? The designer one? I *know* that was the one you had at your place.”
“I dont follow.”
“You shouldve given that to *us*, not her!”
Sophie felt like the floor had vanished. Emily *actually* thought she had the right to dictate who Sophie gave gifts to?
“Emily, do you *hear* yourself? Since when do you get a say in what I give my own family?”
“What? Your sisters got *one* kidshe can afford nice things! Ive got *three*, I *need* them more!”
What Emily needed more than designer clothes was a reality check. But reasoning with her was impossible. She just kept yellingnot in a queue or a shop this time, but right in Sophies *house*.
She was eventually shoved out the door but kept screeching in the hallway. Sophie even had to apologise to the neighbours in the group chat.
Emily? Oh, she never apologised to *anyone*. According to mutual friends, shed only gotten worse over time.
Ten years later
They hadnt spoken since. Sophie and her husband had moved abroad, only visiting occasionally to see family.
Then one day, walking through the park where they used to hang out, Sophie spotted her.
“Fancy seeing *you* here! Thought youd disappeared off the face of the earth!”
“Just back visiting for a week. How are you? How are the kids?”
Emily gestured to the pram. Baby number four.
“Congratulations! Really happy for you.”
“Yeah, well, nothing much to congratulate *you* on, is there? Still no kids. And youre *38*.”
Emily gave her a once-over. Sophie was stylish as ever; Emily wasnt.
“Oh, were doing great, actually. Our business abroad is thrivingeverythings going exactly how we wanted.”
“But youre still *childless*.”
“Just different priorities, I guess.”
Emily would *never* get itnot everyones life revolved around motherhood. And having kids didnt mean the world suddenly owed you favors.
If anything, shed only gotten *worse* over the years.
“Ooh, nice bag! Whered you get it?”
“Bought it.”
“Hmm. I could do with one like that.”
“Why on earth would I get you one?”
The audacity was *unreal*.
“Youre loadedone bag wont break you! Im a *mum*, I deserve nice things too!”
“Go earn your own money.”
“How? Im on maternity leave! Oh, waityou wouldnt know anything about that, would you? No kids, no clue!”
She was still screeching as Sophie walked away.
Some people just never learn.
Had kids? Good for you*your* choice. If you couldnt afford them, maybe you shouldve thought about that *before*.
These days, its like people just pop them out and *then* start begging for handouts. From people who dont owe them a thing.
But hey, what does Sophie know? Shes just living her life*completely* wrong, apparently.
