Coworker: Make sure you’re bundled up because it’s cold enough that the baby can feel it.
Reeeeeeeeally.
The baby has me as a coat. I think she’s fine.
So here’s the deal: I hate wearing coats in the car. They make me feel confined.
Plus…you can’t put your arms down.
If I’m walking 30 feet to my car, I often don’t put a coat on.
The same is true of exiting my car. Unless it’s super windy or snowing, I’m not wearing my coat to walk 30 feet to the building I work in.
I’ve always run hot. Because that comes from my dad’s side of the family, my own mom struggled with this. Here was her coat evolution:
- Put on your coat and gloves on.
- Put your coat on and put gloves in the pockets.
- Zip it up.
- Zip it up all the way!
- Where’s your coat? Why aren’t you wearing it?
- Fine. You don’t have to wear a coat, but you do have to put it in the car in case you get stuck somewhere.*
*You’ll notice there is no mention of hats. Hats were a lost cause.
And that’s how I’ve rolled ever since. I may not be wearing a coat, but I always have one.
Will I make the baby wear a coat? Of course. But not while she’s still in my tummy. That’s just overkill.
Thoughts Appear 
February 3rd, 2014 at 8:55 am
Oh my god, that could be the next big thing . . . baby belly coats! Think about it. We could be bajillionaires!!!
February 3rd, 2014 at 9:18 am
I’m with you, the car counts as inside because it has heat.
February 4th, 2014 at 11:33 am
Exactly. We don’t wear coats in houses. Why would we in cars?
February 3rd, 2014 at 9:45 am
I’m no scientist, but it’s hard for me to imagine with all of our body heat, that a baby in utero would feel cold. Nah, not buying it.
February 3rd, 2014 at 9:45 am
This is why I was mad at you the other day, because I was shopping for your baby shower gift and saw these ADORABLE little in-utero coats and there weren’t any on your gift registry! You’ll be thrilled to know that I got you the combination breast pump / video monitor instead. I hope you’re happy, you ruined my shopping experience with your registry choices.
February 3rd, 2014 at 9:47 am
“ADORABLE little in-utero coats” bwa ha ha!
February 3rd, 2014 at 9:52 am
They were so cute! They even had little tufted slots for the umbilical cords to poke through and of course, they were amniotic fluid stain resistant!
February 3rd, 2014 at 9:58 am
My coffee is all over my keyboard now, Thanks, Dave.
February 3rd, 2014 at 9:58 am
My work here is done.
February 4th, 2014 at 11:34 am
I’m scared to think about how you put them on the baby.
February 4th, 2014 at 12:40 pm
I wonder if the baby would start to sweat with her in utero coat. I mean, if she can get cold in there, then couldn’t she get hot too?
I could be over thinking this.
February 4th, 2014 at 5:19 pm
It’s funny, getting the coat on them isn’t nearly as difficult as keeping it on them – they’re so slippery at that age!
February 3rd, 2014 at 9:46 am
My son went to school today in shorts. He had pants on when we got into the car and somehow when I dropped him off at school this morning, he was magically wearing shorts. It’s 20 degrees outside. So coats are a lost cause for my son.
February 3rd, 2014 at 9:55 am
…and you are branded a horrible mom by everybody who sees him today. You can’t win.
February 3rd, 2014 at 9:58 am
He said to me, “Don’t worry mom! I have my pants in my backpack.” Good place for them.
February 4th, 2014 at 11:36 am
At least he was in school. Boo wore shorts one day while we walked around downtown in the cold. Although he may be a genius because he used it as an excuse to get hot chocolate.
February 3rd, 2014 at 9:54 am
It IS a mother thing and you’ll do the same thing.
February 3rd, 2014 at 10:19 am
But just wait until the baby comes. You’ll be saying the same things and bundling her up just like your parent’s did. It’s a vicious cycle.
February 3rd, 2014 at 11:32 am
I’m not an expert on female anatomy by any means, but I’m guessing it’s not an option to stick a little coat up your nether regions and ask the fetus to put it on?
February 4th, 2014 at 11:37 am
I’d rather her be a little cold.
February 3rd, 2014 at 12:55 pm
I gave up on telling my kids to wear coats. But I tell them that I don’t want to hear them say they are cold! They don’t do boots or umbrellas either. When they are little and you can still control them it’s fun to bundle them up. Take advantage of those years!
February 4th, 2014 at 11:38 am
I’m not an umbrella person either.
February 3rd, 2014 at 1:31 pm
In my experience, it doesn’t matter how the kids feel… If the mom is cold, the kids have to put on a coat… at least until they’re out of mom’s line of sight.
February 3rd, 2014 at 3:07 pm
Reblogged this on aleks0412.
February 3rd, 2014 at 3:38 pm
Shouldn’t you be out of work by now – what about maternity leave? I know, America is not as generous as Germany, we get 6 weeks before the due date and 8 afterwards. With full payment!
February 4th, 2014 at 11:41 am
Holy crap! Can I still take advantage of that if I move there right now? We get 12 weeks of leave unpaid. 6 weeks of that is paid at 60%, 8 weeks if I have a C-section.
February 4th, 2014 at 10:55 pm
I am pretty sure, yes, theoretically you could – but you would have to find an employer who employs you heavily pregnant …
February 3rd, 2014 at 8:41 pm
It’s all good. We may be living on the planet Hoth right now, but you are that baby’s TaunTaun.
February 3rd, 2014 at 9:41 pm
AHH I never wear a coat..NEVER. UNLESS I will actually be spending the day outside. No one gets it…but you…YOU GET IT!
February 4th, 2014 at 11:41 am
Long lost sisters, I tell you.
February 3rd, 2014 at 10:51 pm
My Mom, for sure. Even in the summer she reminds me to put under clothes on.
February 4th, 2014 at 8:36 am
Before you’re allowed to leave the hospital, you have to sign legally binding forms agreeing to make your child wash behind her ears, eat her vegetables, and wear a coat. You are also required to embarrass her regularly beginning right around the pre-teen years, which is the easiest part, requiring your mere existence on the planet Earth.
February 4th, 2014 at 11:43 am
Do people really wash behind their ears? I figure the shampoo gets that.
February 4th, 2014 at 12:40 pm
I run hot too. Like, blast-furnace hot. I’d walk around coatless all the time if I could. Coats are heavy and constricting, and I instantly overheat in them if I walk more than a few steps. So unless it’s single-digit cold out, I usually wear t-shirts and a raincoat (and pants and shoes, of course). That’s as much as I can handle. Your mother and mine were obviously separated at birth, because mine said the same things to me. She was as always up in my grill about wearing a coat and buttoning it up, plus a scarf and mittens, and as soon as she was out of range, I’d open it again and take everything off. Now, Mr. Weebles is all up in my grill about it: “How can you not be cold?” Sigh.
February 4th, 2014 at 4:41 pm
I’m the same way. I don’t want to bother with the coat at all, particularly if you’re only going from the parking lot to a building. They always say to dress your baby in the same or one more amount of layers so I’m always worried she’s too cold.
February 9th, 2014 at 12:09 am
Reblogged this on Grateful Gabbing and commented:
I hate wearing coats !