Facebook


When it comes to social media,
It is just good common sense
To think before you post.
If your parents didn’t warn you,
Other people might.
Maybe your teachers or friends,
Or maybe an online article.

There are many people who made unfortunate examples
Of themselves, and now their stories can be
Cautionary red flags waving to remind you
Not to post about your overindulgences in alcohol,
Your drug experimentations,
Your actual whereabouts when you lie to ditch
your commitments for the day,
Your racial slurs, your fascination with violence,
your lewd humor, your nude or semi-nude photos.
Luckily for me, I have none of that in my life.
So I never leant much thought to my Facebook page.
It’s not like I have shameful secrets to hide
From my family, my friends, an employer…

But I never considered the announcement of a baby.
Because it wasn’t something shameful or x-rated,
It was a good thing, a life event.
If it were up to me, I would have waited longer
to post an announcement like that.
maybe until I knew the gender,
or until I could visit my family in person.
My husband, ever captivated by the idea of a family,
Wanted everyone to know practically days
After the first test (the one where I got angry).
I compromised with him,
And he agreed I could post the news
At the 12 week mark.
12 weeks was when I would get to hear the heartbeat
and if it was good and strong,
I would feel ready to tell the world.
On March 1, the announcement went up on Facebook
About the surprise family member we would be adding.

This bank’s management has a policy.
They want to know who they’re hiring.
The easiest way to get a glimpse into a candidate’s personal life
To see if they are the professional level-headed person
They say they are,
They check the social media.
They look for the things you should never post,
Like drug use and sexual “adventures.”
They also look just to see what kind of life you lead in general.
My announcement was up on my wall on March 1.
The offer came the next week.
Some time between the offer and the background checks,
They searched my name on Facebook,
And learned all about the baby-to-be.

When I called the branch at the end of March
To tell them that I was looking forward to arriving
On April 2,
They told me they knew all about my baby.
I was in shock,
But then I was relieved.
I didn’t have to sit down in front of them
And have an awkward conversation.
They already knew about this monumental life change,
The process leading up to it,
And the time off needed.
But somehow, my previous experience and my personality
Were a better match for them
Than the other candidates,
And that trumped the possible detours and slow-downs
That come with pregnancy at work.

I was pregnant and also bankrupt,
And they still wanted me.

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