The Varelas

I told my boss yesterday that I'm pregnant (she was excited and I think tried to be chummy by asking me what our "future plans" are re: me coming back to work. I avoided that question), and then today at the end of the department meeting, she introduced a little "announcement" and I told everyone else. That was fun.

I knew, just knew, that coworker Lori would bring up the fact that my being due May 21 means I'll be out during our proposal busy season ("out" as in I'll be returning to work 6 or 8 weeks after the baby's born--no reason to clue them all in today that I won't be returning). Those were the first words out of her mouth in the meeting after everyone else's congratulations quieted down.

After we got back to our desks from the meeting, Lori said something like, “So, it’s so exciting!” and then she said that me being pregnant explains why I’ve been so testy and moody lately. Next, she said, “Because you’ve nearly bitten my head off a bunch of times in the past few weeks!” She says all this with her stupid smiling face and plays it off like she is half-joking but she really isn't.

That made me want to bite her head off now. My patience has just worn thin with her over the past few months--starting well before I got pregnant. However, I held my tongue and did not say anything rude or mad at her comment... I just played along with it like, "Yeah, so now you know why! Yeah, I haven't been feeling good."

Although her comments had me seething, and I'd still prefer not to have to interact with her (ever), they did point out to me that I haven't been acting correctly toward her. I have not "nearly bitten [her] head off," but I am impatient with her. I need to remember that I am the Christian here--and she isn't.

It's hard to deal with people you don't like.