I just had an interesting interaction that I think demonstrates how we let our GD slant our perceptions about what other people prefer.
I was chatting with my co-worker about work when she abruptly asked how my DDs are doing. I immediately showed her a recent photograph of the two and I beamed with pride because they are just so gorgeous. She looked at the photograph, smiled, told me they were beautiful, and then asked, "Why don't you want a boy?"
Whoa! Out of the middle of nowhere! I have NEVER said anything even remotely negative about boys. In fact, I have NEVER said ANYTHING about boys because the fact that I do not have a DS is very painful for me. I immediately and non-defensively told her that I really do want a boy and that I hope the third time will be the charm. She looked very relieved to hear this and promptly changed the subject. We continued to talk about work instead.
She made the assumption that I did not want a boy based on my obvious love for my DDs when I showed her their photograph. That is a HUGE leap to make - and one that I am guilty of myself. Little did she know, I had moderate GD with DD1 and severe GD with DD2. I have shed more than a few tears over my intense longing for a DS. It is so fascinating to me that someone else would even think for a second that I did not want a boy. As if the fact that I have two girls is indicative of that. Or that I love my DDs means that I do not want a DS.
Anyways, I was not upset at all by this interaction. If anything, it reminded me that we never know how others really feel and that we should do our best to avoid jumping to conclusions no matter how something might appear.
Like I said, I am guilty of this, too. I have assumed that people are judging me or pitying me because I have DDs. They might. But they might not be, too.