For About an Hour, I Watched Two Soon-to-Be Parents—Barely Out of Sixth Form—at the Gynaecologist’s Waiting Room Recently, I had an appointment with my gynaecologist. As usual, there was a queue and the doctor was running late. Behind me stood a heavily pregnant girl, about eighteen, accompanied by the soon-to-be dad of the same age. These “parents” paid no mind to the queue and acted as they fancied. The father was loudly giggling up and down the corridor because he was having a son: – Isn’t it brilliant, it’s a boy? Heeeeeeeeeeee… He said this about ten times, then suddenly realised: – Oh, we haven’t named him yet! Let’s name him after one of the doctors! He paced the hallway, reading off doctors’ names and making comments on each. On completing his ’rounds’, he plopped down next to the girl, still giggling. An elderly woman passing by politely asked him: – Young man, would you please calm yourself? The lad looked at her, baffled, and replied: – Granny’s pregnant too! Hoo-ha-ha-ha… His girlfriend giggled softly, both of them with equally vacant expressions. With some effort, I managed not to start an argument with the pregnant girl. Next, the soon-to-be dad launched into a new topic—food. – I’m famished! Ya-ya-ya-ya-ya… – I’m hungry, and it’ll be another half hour in this queue… – Let’s go get sausage rolls! We’ll come back after! – I don’t want sausage rolls. – You’ve become so picky! Hoo-ha-ha-ha… Everyone’s head was pounding from listening to them, but thank goodness, the pair finally left—I don’t know if they went for sausage rolls or pasties, but that was irrelevant. The important part was that they were gone. With horror, I thought about what kind of upbringing their child would get. Chances are, that child will turn out just as poorly raised. Maybe the grandparents will step in, but if they raised these two, I doubt things will be any different with the grandchild.

For nearly an hour, I watched the soon-to-be parents, both barely out of sixth form.

Not long ago, I had an appointment with the gynaecologist. As usual, there was a queue and the doctor was running late. Behind me stood a pregnant girl, about eighteen, accompanied by the future father, who couldnt have been much older. The parents paid no mind to the other patients, behaving as if the entire waiting room belonged to them. The dad-to-be erupted with laughter, boasting to everyone that he was having a son:

Isnt it brilliant? Its a boy! Oiiiiiiiii

He must have repeated that line a dozen times before it suddenly hit him:
Oh, we havent picked a name! Lets name him after one of the doctors!

He paced up and down the corridor, reading the plaques with doctors names aloud, commenting on each one. After his little circuit, he plopped down next to the girl, dissolving into another fit of giggles. An elderly lady passing by paused and told him off:

Young man, kindly calm yourself!

He turned, clearly surprised by her intervention, stared for a moment, and replied,
Gran must be expecting as well! Hee-hee-hee-hee

His girlfriend giggled quietly, with the same daft grin plastered on her face. I held my composurebarelydetermined not to create a scene with a pregnant woman. Without missing a beat, the dad changed the subject to food.

Im absolutely starving! Oi-oi-oi-oi
Im hungry and this queue will take half an hour
Lets nip out for pasties! We can come back after!
I dont want pasties.
Youve gone all fussy! Hahahaha

Everyones head was pounding from all the commotion, but thank goodness, the pair wandered offwhether it was for pasties or dumplings, I didnt care, only that theyd left.

Horrified, I found myself thinking what sort of upbringing their son would receive. Chances are, hell turn out just as badly mannered. I can only hope the grandparents will step in, though if they raised children like these two, I cant imagine much will change for the next generation.