Have you ever been at a tía’s house and they notice that your toddler is being extra clingy? No matter what you do or what you give him, your kid won’t stop crying or fussing, or wrapping themselves around your leg and refusing to let go! I don’t know about you, but this is usually when my family starts assuming that your offspring is chípil.
What does that mean? Well, let me explain it as simply as possible. Chípil is what you call a child that is being needy, clingy… and well, just bien fastidioso. But there is a reason behind what might seem like erratic behavior. At the very least, this is one explanation. How do I put it eloquently?
¡Qué ya encargaste! Meaning that you are expecting.
Now, depending on whether you have been trying or not, you might be over the moon about the possible new addition to your familia, or by this time you are in full panic mode. Either way, in a couple of months (like say about nine of them) you may be welcoming your new bundle of joy into the world. If like me, however, you’ve already decided you are done having kids, the word chípil is the last one you want to hear.
My husband and I already have three beautiful children: 8, 6 and a 1 year old. Even though we initially wanted four of them, we have since decided que la fabrica ya está cerrada. The factory is closed. ¡Ya no más!
So claro, when his side of the family notices that Kayla, my youngest, is being a pain and nothing makes her happy, they immediately exclaim chípil. No! No! No!
Let me say that again. No! No! No!
How do I tell them (and how often) that: No, I don’t want any more kids. No, we are not trying to have kids. And no, we cannot have kids because… Because we can’t! It is too much information (TMI)! Information that I am not really inclined to talk about. When the chípil allegation arises all I can say is, “No I’m not.”
But I digress.
Now when someone yells ¡chípil! you’ll know exactly what they are talking about.
Ladies, do you care when they say your kid is chípil?
Do you also find yourself explaining why you don’t want to have any more children?
Or do you wish someone would say the word to you now?
I guess it all depends on your individual situation.
