My big fat African Family ...and labor?

Let me start this post by saying that I truly love being around my family. They are big, not fat, but definitely African (Liberian) and all that entails. They are as much loving and supportive and fun as they are boisterous, stubborn, and filled with drama. Over the years I have grown to understand that there is really a thin line between  concerned parents and downright nosey and invasive. I talk to my mom at least once a day and she insists on knowing every single detail of my life-from what I'm cooking for dinner to how many times my daughter used the potty. Seriously!

So it goes without saying that them not being here for the birth of my first born was a pretty big deal. In fact, my mom was actually at the airport on her way here when Leila was born.  This go around, my mom is determined to make it down here in time for baby#2's birth.  She's planning to have all her bags packed and hitting the road at my first sign of labor.  And she's bringing the whole family!

Now, I'll say it again, I love being around my family.  However...during labor???

How can I put this gently? My family brings a lot of...well, EVERYTHING.  Pretty much every minor event can become a big deal in just a matter of seconds.  For example, Leila tripped over something and fell down at my mom's house a few months ago and this is how it went:

Me: Leila, are you ok?
Leila: yes, I'm ok
Mom: (in a panic) What happened to Leila?
Me: she fell
Grandma: (in a bigger panic) She fell? What do you mean she fell? Where? How?
Mom: Who left that (whatever the object was) over there? I bet it was Chadia (my 16 year old sister). Oh my God, Leila are you ok?
Leila: yes, I'm ok
Me: She's fine
Mom: where is that girl? CHADIA!
Chadia: yes
Mom: (yelling) why did you leave blablabla over there? Didn't I tell you to move it? You never listen. Why are you so stubborn? All you care about is ...(typical mom-teenager rant)
Chadia: I'll move it. Geez, what's the big deal?
Grandma: (more yelling) That little girl fell and hurt herself. Didn't your mother tell you to move it? Why are you so stubborn? And so on....

Meanwhile, Leila is playing with her toys, completely unharmed and over the whole thing...and they are all still carrying on.  And then just when things start to calm down, in walks my dad who says, "What happened to Leila?" and so it starts all over again!

Don't get me wrong, I do see the pure COMEDY in situations like this. However, is it going to be that funny when I'm in labor?

Posted in: About Me,introducing baby #2