The Do's and Don'ts of interacting with an infertile woman

Hello all!
Just thought I'd write a little do/don't list for my friends and family. It may not apply to every woman struggling with infertility but it certainly applies to me.
DO:

• Ask me how I am doing
• Ask questions if you are curious or interested in something related to my journey. I started this blog to reach out to my friends and family and if you have questions or if you're interested in what's going on...just ask. I LOVE to talk...lol.
• Invite me out/over for coffee to chat about how things are going
• Treat me like you would any normal friend who has normal problems that you would ask about and discuss
• Be supportive of our journey
• Pray for us
• Offer a shoulder to cry on or an ear to listen
• Realize that IVF is the path we have chosen and be supportive of that and all that goes along with that
• Approach us and come along side us as friends and family who care for and love us

DON'T:

• Treat me like I am dying of a terminal illness, with pity and sadness (I cannot stand it!!)
• Tell me:
• To relax and let things happen (haha! yeah, that's the key to everything isn't it)
• To not worry so much
• About what worked for such and such a friend and how it might work for me. I have been through enough as it is, and in my doctor's professional opinion, IVF is our only option of concieving a biological child. If we get pregnant naturally between now and then, it will be a miracle of God..nothing more.
• That I am young and have years before I need to worry about having kids. (Not everyone wants to or has the luxury of waiting to be in their 30's before they have children!!!!)
• That I can always adopt. (We have decided that adoption is not for us, so you need to be supportive of that decision).
• Avoid talking to me because you are afraid it's going to be awkward. It will only be awkward if you make it awkward (by avoiding the topic like a pink elephant in the room). I am 100% comfortable with how God made me, and this is a part of how he made me.
• Pretend like you know what I am going through. Unless you have dealt with infertility or problems conceiving you have no idea what I am going through.
• Treat my situation as though I am over-reacting and jumping to crazy solutions for a 'minor' problem. I have been trying to have a baby for over 2 years and have been given medications and tried all sorts of natural remedies and they haven't worked...we are past "minor problems" and are not over-reacting.

In short, treat me like you always have, with care and concern for what is going on in my life. Don't treat me any differently and avoid this part of me like it is an elephant in the room. Infertility is part of who I am and I want my friends and family to embrace me for ALL of who I am, not just the parts they are comfortable with. I know it is not something people are traditionally comfortable talking about...but that needs to change in a big way. So again, I'm not a frail and fragile woman so stop pitying me and go back to treating me like the normal Jenny, Jen or Jennifer you know!!! If I need to cry I will cry, just like anyone else.
I hope this makes sense. I just thought it would be helpful, as I know some people are not sure exactly how to approach the subject or if they can talk about it. PLEASE DO! I started this blog to break the silence...so talk to me about it and know that it is ok. That doesn't mean we have to talk about it everytime we get together...lol...that might get depressing (and it shouldn't always be about me..hehe)....but if you wanna know how I'm doing or ask something, please feel free!

Love you all!!

Jen