Are you an obsessive planner?

[GoofItUp]

I'm beginning to worry that I've developed a planning disorder. See what you think.....

DH and I have decided to have kids. I have a doctors appointment tomorrow, so I thought this would be the appropriate time to ask my doctor a few questions such as what I need to be doing (excercise, eating, other doctors appointments such as a physical) and if there's anything DH needs to do (doctors appointments, etc.) so that we get everything just right. The only thing is, we've decided to get pregnant TWO YEARS FROM NOW!

Does anyone know of a 12-step program that could help me through this?

Are any of you obsessive planners? Perhaps we could start a support group!

 

[olena]

I am. I organize everything....trips, events, business meetings, fundraisers, etc.

 

[Griggle]

LMAO, but right there with you!!!! I drive my DH nuts with all my "planning".....vacations, kids, work, retirement....endless list.

For our cruise in May 2005, I not only have the excursions we'll be taking mapped out - I already have them booked....it's killing me that I can't book the hotel or the rental car yet....

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

I assume that your plan includes the interim period when you do not want to be pregnant . I do not think it is too early to be concerned about that. Making sure that you are physically in great shape before getting pregnant will likely make for a smoother pregnancy and will help a lot towards a healthy baby. The best example is getting adequate folic acid even before conception. You may want to see if your doctor will give you a prescription for pre-natal vitamins. These will help to prepare your body for preganancy. Have you decided to get your financial house in order over the next two years? It would be great to be able to live on one salary so one of you can stay home to raise the kids.

 

[mommytotwo]

I like to plan things and be organized but I guess not as much as you. Having a baby two years from now-wow that's really planning.

 

[katerkat]

I've been planning for my future pregnancy (we're going to start trying after the ski season in March 2005) for a year and a half now!

My sister got engaged on Saturday, and I already printed out timelines and other stuff, filled them out and sent them to her. The wedding is in May 2005.

Meanwhile, we need to move in a week and a half and I haven't done ANYTHING for that!

 

[GoofItUp]

IMGONNABE40! - We are getting things financially in order right now (started that planning a few months ago). We're learning to live on DH's salary and just use mine for the high-priced trips and 'luxury' items we have now - stuff we know we'll cut once kids come and I quit my job to be a SAHM and surf the DISboards all day ---- I mean --- um --- take care of the baby all day!

 

[Gette88]

YES, and a big time list maker.

 

[pfishgirl]

I also plan EVERYTHING or just about everything ((blushing))
I have vaction plans and even reminders to call and re-check reservations. So yes I am a compulsive planner as well.

Stacy

 

[laurie31]

Here's another obsessive planner I have as much fun planning things out as I do actually doing them. We planned for our kids like that, too. I started taking folic acid, made sure my immunizations were up to date (adults need a tetanus booster every ten years), we wrote a will and chose guardians in case of the unthinkable, and all sorts of things like that. Not 2 years in advance, but I think maybe 6 months.

When we actually started trying, I took cough syrup to... well, it seems gross to say it, but just like it thins mucus in your lungs, it thins it everywhere...and makes it easier for sperm to swim (sorry if that was TMI) and I made DH wear boxers instead of briefs. We waited 48 hours between attempts to maximize the sperm count. (Can I say sperm here?)

What no one warned me about was the incredible psychological impact of switching from recreational to procreational relations with DH! OMGOSH! We were both basket cases - suddenly, it wasn't about fun, it was about performance! We did chill out a bit with DD2 (I skipped the cough syrup ) but it's still a huge factor that no one prepared us for, despite my reading everything I could get my hands on and attending the "preparing for pregnancy" classes at the hospital.

I guess my advice would be - start taking folic acid 3-6 months before you start trying to conceive, think carefully about who you want to name as guardians, and don't forget to name each other! (did you know that if just one of you dies, the surviving parent does not automatically get custody, even if you're a happily married couple We were shocked to find that out. It may not be so in every state, but it is here) start talking about names, college savings plans, life insurance, get in shape - I did all sorts of exercises to prepare for childbirth -and don't forget to have fun

Laurie
ps - you should also be warned, that you can't plan things like you used to, once you have a baby Except trips to WDW

 

[CamColt]

Ummm....yeah, Id have to admit Im a bit of a planaholic myself. Ok, Im a psychotic planner. However I found the one thing I had no control over planning was having my kids. Someone had a different plan for me than I did. Hope you have better luck.