I have a new pet peeve/annoyance/reason to want to hit complete strangers.  I’m not sure what this says about me as a person, but I’ve never wanted to punch complete strangers in the face as much as I do now that I’m pregnant.  Allow me to explain…

I am almost 8 months pregnant, if you can believe it.  Therefore, I have a rather large, rotund belly in which my baby resides.  I could be wrong, but I feel like I’m about on track, size-wise.  I don’t feel like I’m gargantuan compared the other women in their 8th month.  Now, that’s not counting the really annoying skinny little bitches who even at 8 months pregnant look like they had a big sandwich, but that’s for another blog.  What I mean is, I don’t feel like I am abnormally big for how far along I am.  I, apparently, am the only one who feels that way.

I cannot tell you how many times a day someone asks me how far along I am, or when the baby is due, or how much longer I have to go.  And it never fails, the moment I tell them, they get this look on their face that’s a cross between horror and pity.  Like they half expect me to say I was due 3 weeks ago and I’m just waiting for the baby to walk out on her own. 

Now, I’ve seen plenty of pregnant women, and like I said, I’m pretty normal in comparison.  I’m not sure why people feel the need to insinuate that I’ve crossed over into sideshow status.  When did it become acceptable for strangers to comment on your size, pregnant or not?  I would never make a face when a fat lady told me how much she weighed (not to her face anyway).  I don’t know why the social norms are different if you’re pregnant.  And of course I’m a thousand times more sensitive because of all the stupid hormones, so I totally take every widened eye personally.  I wonder what one of these rude jerks would do if I just started crying when they gasped and put their hand over their heart.  Actually, that sounds like it might be kind of fun. 

I guess I shouldn’t take it too personal, since most people really don’t mean any harm.  Maybe they really just don’t realize how big a women who is about to give birth can be.  I should use this time to develop a thick skin for when after the baby is born.  Because if I’m not careful, and I don’t prepare myself, I may end up in jail after the first time some a**hole asks me how far along I am, after I’ve already given birth.  That’s not a good example to set for my daughter, and I don’t know that they allow you to pump in county lockup.