I am not sure I can continue going to church every week. I am a little tired of people's comments. Today a man, thinking he was really clever, said, "Well Rachael, you really ARE pregnant!" I grimaced/smiled back and said to the lady next to me (after he had gone), "Well, I've known that for the last 7 months, it's not really news to me!" Many other people said, "When are you due again?" as they scanned my torso from top to bottom. I was almost to the safety of my vehicle (with my coat on and kids in tow)when the grand finale came. A woman from behind me called out energetically, "Rachael, when are you due?" I turned around, smiling through gritted teeth. "January." Again, the slow scan of torso. "Are you having twins again?" Me, offended and beginning to get angry but anxious not to show it, "Har har...umm, I guess I'll take that as a compliment?" "Of course its a compliment." I, feeling extremely confused and deciding to ignore her, begin making a beeline for my car. She, thinking perhaps to end with a big bang--putting the cherry on the cake, as it were--and probably feeling extremely clever, said "It would be even more wonderful if they were twin girls, Rachael!"
All the way home I thought of some great things I could have said to her. I would have loved to see her face if I had said, "No actually, it's triplets, don't I look fantastic?" Or perhaps, "If you remember being pregnant, which you probably don't since it was so long ago, you may also remember that what you have just said is extremely rude and offensive."
I feel better now, having unloaded this on you. I should probably erase it, but the truth is that I would like to share my insight with you. Always be kind to pregnant women, they have enough to face when they look in the mirror every morning, without dealing with annoying comments from those around them. I can see that it is quite amazing to watch someone else gain between 30-40 lbs in a 9 month period, but you can just keep your amazement to yourself. I have redoubled my promise to self that I will NEVER say anything to a pregnant woman besides, "You look absolutely fantastic!"
(By the way, I love being pregnant.) :-)
And no, you are not getting a picture of said torso, at the present moment. It would be too...predictable.
OH . . . the awful memories that brings back! :) You tell it with such skill, though, that it just makes me laugh! "putting the cherry on the cake, as it were"---awesome.
ReplyDeleteMy midwife was so wonderful--always telling me how great I looked and _never_ making me "weigh in". How I loved her. But many others were like your dear ward member. I had the "is it twins?" comments a couple different times. Come on people!! This is my dang fourth pregnancy! I'm not slender as a young willow tree anymore, sorry! (Luckily I haven't had anyone asking if I'm _still_ pregnant . . . though I know I may look it!)
YOU LOOK ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC, my dear! :)
Oh.....my goodness. Yeah, that is pretty bad. People just don't get it sometimes. I like both of your post-incident comebacks. I guess sometimes it's better that we don't think of those things in time to say them.
ReplyDeleteI wish you had a picture up but I'm sure you look absolutely fantastic!
I think you should put up the pics of you AFTER you've delivered the last four times to make it clear that you get back into shape faster than just about anyone we know. I LOVE how you look when you're pregnant and I LOVE how you look when you run, eat right, and pull it all back together. Indeed, you "look absolutely fantastic" all the time my sweet daughter!
ReplyDeleteJust to say it again, I really do think you look fantastic!!! Rach, thanks for such a fun weekend. I can't tell you what a nice time we had and how well you handled the crowd. I hope you get some good R & R and know how much we miss you. XO
ReplyDeleteNO KIDDING! What are people thinking! My sister used to say to me- "you look SOOOO pregnant!" to which I would respond-"I AM!"
ReplyDelete