Curious thing. More than 70% of people, after first hearing about us having a baby, ask the question in some format. No matter whether he or she is friend or family, in Finland or in US, or somewhere else, colleague or school buddy, much travelled or never left the country... all the same.
"Are you now moving back to Finland?"
"Are yo going to have the baby in Finland?"
"Where are you going to have the baby?" (especially often - and not referring to which hospital in White Plains)
et cetera
Is this somehow just an easy conversation starter, or is there something more fundamental here? I do not think I have heard the question "are you going to move soon back to Finland?" too many times in the last two years before the baby time started.
Why would this one thing change our life so fundamentally? Is it just the fact that Finland is more secure and safe and "right", because that is the home country? Do people assume that we both suddenly completely change our jobs because of the baby? I'll forgive if some folks in Finland assume we want to move because of the great baby healthcare system and maturnity benefits available - but hey, there are great doctors and hospitals here as well... Bill Clinton had heart surgery in the same building where our little one is planned to arrive to the world.
Having a baby changes completely the life, universe and everything, absolutely. But there are some other facets of life, driven by other factors, that need to be considered as well. Never say never, but if we are happy with the life where we are, with the jobs and careers we have, the assumption is that we'll still stick around for a while.
Interestingly, I do not think any of the grandparents-to-be have voiced the question. They sure would have the incentive to shorten the distance. Maybe they just know us very well. That is a nice thought.
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2 comments:
Sorry, I confess. I was the one. I slipped it some time when talking to Maria. But she didn't mind. Maybe I remembered how Finnish ladies came to Finland for childbirth from Tansania. USA is of course something else. Another reason is that since the first time giving a birth is such an experience I, myself want that I can scream in my mothertoung to all... which is necessarely not the case with everybody else. So I just accidentaly asked. Sorry :-)
I quess the delivery staff will most likely hear some nasty Finnish - no doubt the message carries over regardless of language. Any experience, ladies? I suspect you are there since Ville obviously published his blog...
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