“Chavy, chas v’shalom!! Don’t talk like that! Of course you’ll have a big family! Really really soon! Say amen!!”

MY

friend Sari calls me one night after I’ve been doing treatments for over a year. I’m doing laundry while she talks. She vents long and hard about her four kids aged six and under. It sounds so overwhelming, and I really feel for her.

Suddenly she stops talking.

“Chavy? Is it bad that I’m venting about my kids when you’ve been married for three years?”

I think. “It’s not. It would bother me if other people did, but since we’re close, and you always listen to me vent about our treatments and everything, I think it just feels good that we’re both open with each other and have a normal relationship.”

“Phew,” Sari heaves. “And don’t worry, Chavy. Really soon you’re going to have triplets or quads, and then you’ll be venting to me about the same thing!”

I pause as I roll up socks. “Maybe. And maybe not. Maybe that’s not Hashem’s plan for me.”

“Chavy, chas v’shalom!! Don’t talk like that! Of course you’ll have a big family! Really really soon! Say amen!!”

I roll my eyes, but dutifully say amen.