A pregnant lady walks into a bar...

So something totally perplexing happened to me yesterday morning when I was hanging out with my awesome, six months preggers girlfriend. I lost a bit of hope in mankind and in human decency as I saw how they reacted to my friend...or didn't react to her.

People acted like she didn't exist. As we waited for a table to open up at a popular brunch spot on Atlanta's west side, people went out of their way not to help her. No one offered her a seat (there were men sitting on the couch in the air conditioning. they didn't budge when she approached) or a glass of water. No one asked her when she was due. It was like she wasn't there. 

Isn't this supposed to be the time when people give you too much attention? When they touch your belly without asking? When they offer their seats to you and their tables to you?

cartoon by PC Vey. check out this post on the city room blog about another pregnant woman facing similar rudeness. 

When we finally were seated by a mean little hostess, she sat us at the bar on uncomfortable stools, instead of at one of the open two-tops. After brunch, this continued at another trendy gourmet grocery. Being pregnant, my friend wanted dessert. As she looked into the display case at the various bacon-covered cupcakes and chunky chocolate brownies, a man pushed ahead of her and proceeded to crowd her: first peering around her right side, then walking back to the left to see what he wanted. To my friend's credit, she was totally calm, cool and sweet. I was ready to deck the asshole in his scrawny little face. I visualized buying one of the chocolate cakes and launching it at his mug; clown style. Or accidentally pushing him over, and kicking him in the stomach. But I did nothing but silently seethe. 

It seems like there are so few perks of going through the pregnancy process. Maternity clothes tend to be frumpy. You don't feel cute. You get, what my friend calls "muffin tops on your feet" when you try to wear your fave pre-pregnancy mary janes. You're nauseous. So when you're out in public, the one thing you hope to receive is a sense of reverence, or at least decency.