"Since humor is one of our coping mechanisms, we thought we'd use that to hop on the creative announcement bandwagon in our own infertile way," says Whitney Blake.
Highlights
- The Blakes are using humour to deal with their inability to conceive.
- They began sharing their creations during Infertility Awareness Week.
- The pictures have since gone viral.
Perhaps there is nothing more tragic than not being able to have a baby while longing for one. For any couple planning parenthood, dealing with infertility can be extremely emotional and trying. This is how one such couple are coping - American news personality Spencer Blake and his wife Whitney are using humour to deal with their inability to conceive.
Trying to make the best of a bad situation, the couple have been spoofing popular baby announcement methods with their own 'infertility announcements' to create awareness. The photos are both wry and poignant.
Take, for example, these pictures:
One of Spencer and Whitney's 'infertility announcements'.
The Blakes, proud parents of two adopted children, began sharing their creations on their blog on April 25, during Infertility Awareness Week.
"Spencer and I decided to share a few silly infertility announcements that we made specifically for IAW (obviously these weren't actually used to announce anything, just so we're clear here). Since humor is one of our coping mechanisms, we thought we'd use that to hop on the creative announcement bandwagon in our own infertile way. Of course, we're not suggesting infertile people announce their deepest struggle with a silly meme. Nor are we making fun of pregnant people. We've just found that laughing at our problems sometimes makes them feel smaller, and couldn't resist the chance to poke fun at infertility," Whitney Blake wrote on the blog.
Their first version was a spin on the 'bun in the oven' announcement:
Spencer and Whitney's take on the 'bun in the oven' announcement.
In all, Spencer and Whitney have shared six such announcements, all of which carry this disclaimer: "We are the happy parents of two little boys who joined our family through the miracle of adoption after we had struggled for several years with infertility. Though the infertility is still there, the struggle is mostly not. What used to be such a consuming, challenging part of our life is now usually more of a passing thought. We are so grateful to be parents, but we have not forgotten how lonely and horrible infertility can feel, which is why we thought we'd create something to connect with others who are going through what we went through."
The pictures have since gone viral.
"Thank you for seeing and sharing the humor in a trial that can be so difficult to understand. I smiled at your infertility announcements and wished that I could have had the foresight to put another spin on the devastation that is infertility. But one to never regret, going forward I am going to try to put my trials in perspective. Now that my kids are teenagers I've often thought why did I try so hard to have kids they are killing me! But now I'm sure I can find some humor in raising rebellious teens! Thank you! Thank you! For sharing," says commenter Michelle Cunningham on the blog.
Another comment reads: "Thank you for sharing your journey. We were also infertile and ended up adopting. Best decision of our lives! Love the "Infertility Announcements!"
Here are some of their other announcements.
Via Italian food:
Spencer and Whitney are proud parents of two adopted children.
Via Scrabble:
The Blakes began sharing their creations on their blog on during Infertility Awareness Week.
And the one with a little 'pop':
Their pictures have since gone viral.