Telling the Parents

Every parent has a markedly different reaction to the news. We sent the picture and talked them either on the phone or via IM while they were looking at it.

Carole: (Mother-in-law, first grandchild) - Screams and cries, says "I'm gonna have a baby!"

Susan: (My mother, has a grandchild from my sister) - "F***! Wow! Oh my God! Boy, Ethan you better get a job!"

Jeff: (My stepfather) - Woo Hoo! YAY! Wooooo! (he's a woo-hoo kind of guy)

Richard: (My father, seems fixated on other things) IM transcript below.

Richard says: OK, now I know what it is. Does it indicate a positive and do I, perchance, know the testee?
Ethan says: All of the above
Richard says: Wow! When?
Ethan says: Why would I send you a picture of a dud?
Richard says: Due, I mean.
Ethan says: Well, that's unknown. This picture is about 6 hours old.
Ethan says: Assuming it's right....Feb, March
Richard says: Has she been to a doctor yet?
Ethan says: She found out 6 HOURS ago
Richard says: Cool.
Ethan says: She has an appt in two weeks
Richard says: And how do you feel about this?
Ethan says: Most doctors won't see you until 8 weeks anyway.
Ethan says: Freaked out, excited.
Richard says: Good.
Richard says: Change of subject........
Ethan says: ooooookay...
Richard says: When I went up to the dome to see what kind of wedding ceremony John and Ruth wanted (I'm doing the ceremony), I found they were both on the South Beach Diet.
Richard says: I checked it out online.
Richard says: I signed up and got the cookbook.
Richard says: You would love this.
Richard says: There's not enough hours in the day to eat all the food you're allowed to eat.
Richard says: I am in the most restrictive two weeks and last night we had salmon with creamy lemon sauce.

Yes, so they're all happy. But it's interesting to see how their minds work.