In my headlines today
1. Strangers keep coming up to me and saying I am having a boy. They don't say, "I think you're having a boy," either; they say, "That's a boy," with complete conviction. I assume they are basing this on something about the shape of my bump or the way I am carrying it. No one ever comes up to me and says "It's a girl." Superstitiously, this makes me worry a little. It's not that I have anything against having a boy--not at all. But it would be odd now, since I've been thinking of the baby as a girl for so long, and also because he would have to wear a lot of dresses at this point. Today, the very nice Chinese teller at the bank told me it was a boy, that it was Year of the Dog, which was a good year, that I should drink lots of water for my obvious allergies and not take any medication, and that I should not say out my Social Security number so loudly. I'm sure she was right about a few of these things.
So as things stand: we have the ultrasound specialist, the Chinese lunar calendar, and the "Myths and Superstitions" online quiz thinking it's most likely a girl; and on the other side, we have every stranger in the world saying it's a boy (also my own intuition when I first became pregnant).
2. A guy whistled at me on Geary today, plunging me into a state of utter self-consciousness and hurt feelings, since I am 99% sure he did it to be mean.
3. At the party I went to on Sunday, a woman I had never met came up to me and said, with no preface, "Oh! I would never have worn something like that when I was pregnant. It's so tight." This outfit, by the way, can be seen in my last blog post, the top picture: pink top and skirt. Confused, I said, "It's not that tight," showing her the looseness of the waistband. It was very comfortable, really. She said, "I just mean, it's so revealing. You can really see the shape and everything. I would have worn a big, tent-like outfit to cover myself up." ???? Are people just trying to make me cry these days, because they know they can do it so easily? That my hormones cause me to cry at commercials for refrigerators these days? It's like shooting fish in a barrel, people.
4, 5, and 6. My ribs hurt, my ribs hurt, my ribs hurt.
So as things stand: we have the ultrasound specialist, the Chinese lunar calendar, and the "Myths and Superstitions" online quiz thinking it's most likely a girl; and on the other side, we have every stranger in the world saying it's a boy (also my own intuition when I first became pregnant).
2. A guy whistled at me on Geary today, plunging me into a state of utter self-consciousness and hurt feelings, since I am 99% sure he did it to be mean.
3. At the party I went to on Sunday, a woman I had never met came up to me and said, with no preface, "Oh! I would never have worn something like that when I was pregnant. It's so tight." This outfit, by the way, can be seen in my last blog post, the top picture: pink top and skirt. Confused, I said, "It's not that tight," showing her the looseness of the waistband. It was very comfortable, really. She said, "I just mean, it's so revealing. You can really see the shape and everything. I would have worn a big, tent-like outfit to cover myself up." ???? Are people just trying to make me cry these days, because they know they can do it so easily? That my hormones cause me to cry at commercials for refrigerators these days? It's like shooting fish in a barrel, people.
4, 5, and 6. My ribs hurt, my ribs hurt, my ribs hurt.
posted by Sarah Goss at 9:21 PM
15 Comments:
People, for some reason, seem to think it is perfectly ok to say whatever pops into their head when they are around a pregnant lady. I have no idea why, but it is so rude. Anyway, ignore that stupid twit at that party. She is just jealous that she doesn't have your confidence and sense of fashion... and that you are such a pretty pregnant lady. :)
People are also generally rude and stupid today; the fact that this woman would think you had any interest in hearing her offensive nonsense to begin with shows you exactly how seriously you should treat her comments. Hold your head high and ignore the idiot brigade...
Heh heh; thanks, guys! I am down in the dumps a little, and you are cheering me up. I know I need a thicker skin, anyway-- who knows what motivates people to say what they say. But, you are right, Beth-- people DO seem to comment rather freely to the pregnant. It's like you've tacitly announced your bod is now completely available for the public discourse :-) Never mind if you are inherently a shy type about bodily matters, like I am.
Hi Honey,
I very much doubt that the whistle was meant in fun. You look fabulous -- any whistles, cat calls, honks you should take as in earnest :-)
-Mark
I agree with Mark.
Ditto Mark and Mita. You are a particular hot, pretty pregnant lady! As for those women--down here where bare-skinned pregnant bellies are the fashion, you would be almost conservative. You look fabulous. Show it off. You have just the kind of cute little pregnant belly I longed for. Call that doctor about those ribs!
Several things.
1) Ditto what everyone else said about people being rude around pregnant women. WTH??!?!?
1a) When K was pregnant with Jack, she would go for walks in Albany and homeless men would hit on her. So, with the empathy.
2) Pregnant women in general look awesome and should show, not hide, the fact. (Not that it's always polite to say so, but happens to be the case. According to me, anyway.)
3) You in particular have nothing to worry about on that score.
4) Boy, girl -- it's all good.
5) This part is over soon, and you get a really cute prize at the end. :)
think the whistler was just trying to be funny (in an obnoxious way). It's like saying "you're PREGNANT!" and yes, it does seem to be eyecatching since everyone is now commenting!
I think your pregnant fashions are fabulous, and it is the trend to show your curves (as evidenced by all those celebrity bumps in magazines). No tents for our dear Sarah!
However personally I'm not too keen on "showing the flesh" (eg short tops exposing the entire belly to fresh air)... and wouldn't one get cold? A look better saved for the beach or a picnic in the park!
Love what Matt said about the "prize"! :-)
Hi you guys! Thanks for writing me... Mark is biased :-)
But I appreciate the thoughts...who knows why a man whistles at a pregnant lady, I suppose. I find it hard to believe it wasn't meant to be mean, but who knows. Maybe he has a thing for pregnant ladies. But it's hard to feel good about it when you are waddling down the street huffing and puffing (and fighting back the onslaught of snotty allergens). Maybe I looked *hawt* with my running eyes and my enormo-tummy! :-)
Thank you for what you all said...regardless of what that particular guy thought, YOU all make me feel great!
Oh, one more thing--Katherine made me think of it: at the same gathering where the "pink top and skirt" pic was taken, my mom and cousin convinced me to take a shot of my belly (just pulling up the shirt a little to see it, not fully naked or anything). I was shocked that I was this brave! I am shy about these things (I have never even worn a bikini in my life). But it is sort of weirdly cool to see it in all its... large-osity and strangeness.
I am going to have to ask the doc about these rib pains. I am starting to think they can't be normal... thanks for reminding me, Amy! (I have a tendency to let these things go when I shouldn't.)
I really have nothing new to add to the chain of similar comments already added here, but I can't help expressing my disbelief and horror at this terrible woman you ran into. Even if her comments truly capture how she really feels about the matter (though I can't imagine why anyone should have such a catty and mean-spirited opinion in the first place), what on earth could possible have motivated her to air that opinion out TO YOUR FACE is really just mystifying--how utterly shallow and cruel and, well, deeply stupid. Some people just shouldn't be allowed out in public, I guess.
Thank you, Albert. We idiots have feelings too. :)
Since I haven't been pregnant in Texas I can't say for sure, but I bet nobody would ever spit such venomous twaddle to a stranger here. Know why? Concealed handguns are legal, that's why.
Hee hee hee. Thank you, Michael. I agree: it's amazing what people will say right to your face. And she had just been introduced to me, one second earlier!
Thank you, Albert!
And, y'know, Meghan, I DID notice that people seemed particularly friendly in Texas, during my brief visit there... being from New York, it came as a bit of a shock to me. They were friendly, though you had the sense they were drily, ironically yanking your chain a little, too. I liked it.
Your are Nice. And so is your site! Maybe you need some more pictures. Will return in the near future.
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