Let's get the dying baby story off the top of the blog, shall we? New topic...
I've found that walking around with a bump means that people feel they can freely offer advice and opinions about pregnancy, deliveries and childrearing. They also feel free to offer opinions about weight gain and rub my belly (and we all know I don't like overtouching).
Maybe it's because I work with a lot of women...I have approximately 75 colleagues between my two positions and I'd say that 60+ of them are women. In addition, many of them are women in their mid50s which seems to be the prime age for comments.
My friend AMW says it is just a rite of passage...she's right but I still am taken aback when someone walks by and offers up an opinion. I'm sure I did the same thing before I got pregnant so I'd like to offer a blanket apology to my friends - you all looked gorgeous then and now!
So without further adieu, here are my favorite pregnancy comments (some mine, some others):
1. Are you sure you're not having twins? I think this is a pretty common one - another variation - are you sure there is only one in there?
2. You're having a girl because your face and ass have gotten bigger.
3. You're having a girl because you're really round all over (ha ha, this was to me - I told the woman that I was round and fat pre-pregnancy so then she got all flustered and said she wasn't saying I was fat)
4. You have another ten weeks to go? No way! Variation of this: you have ANOTHER three months??????
5. WHOA! Your girls are huge - you need to put on your coat!
6. Still here? you're ready to pop!
7. You're going to spoil your child.
8. Don't hold your child too much.
9. You should use a pacifier.
10. You shouldn't use a pacifier.
So here's my new rule: I'm limiting myself to simple phrases only. Namely "you look GREAT!".
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Ironically, when I was not pregnant with twins, I was always asked if I was having twins. When I was pregnant with twins, NOBODY asked me that question. (Perhaps because I was quick to tell everyone, "it's twins, that's why I'm so large.")
ReplyDeleteOne time a stranger at Target put her hand on my belly and said, "I just can't resist." True story. I asked her to resist.
And lastly, Matt has a policy to "never ever ever ask a woman if she is pregnant unless you actually see the baby emerging from her." I think that's a good policy that the world should adopt. Right after Brady was born, I saw a woman at a Twins game wearing a maternity shirt that I had worn. I asked her when she was due, and she pointed at her newborn baby down the row. I was so embarrassed. Lesson learned.
I now feel guilty for telling all my pregnant coworkers, at some point or another, that they looked ready to pop. Thanks a lot, Preggers. Just kidding. Who the hell am I to say anything? I will forever more STFU.
ReplyDeleteYou look GREAT! :)
ReplyDelete