So, even before I got pregnant, I noticed this disturbing trend of pregnant woman whose bellies were not their own anymore. Instead, strangers, family, friends - everyone - seemed to think that they had a right to cop a feel and rub the belly. Like it was a magic charm or something. I'd heard horror stories of friends being waylaid in the grocery stores by strangers (strangers! hello? Personal space?) moving in for a rub. Family members who just wouldn't ask anymore but just moved in. And the bigger they got - the worse it got. Friends who "just can't help themselves" and sneaked a quick rub.
Why does this bother me? I guess it is a couple of things. A lack of manners and courtesy in respecting personal space and boundaries for starters. I would never
dream of touching a stranger - much less their pregnant belly! Second, it just bugs when someone doesn't ask. How would they like it if I rubbed their tummy's back?
So far, I've managed to avoid this. The one person who wanted to touch my belly was 1) a female and 2) someone I knew already and 3) she asked PERMISSION first - so I let her. But last night, someone I don't know very well went made a move to go in and rub my belly and I grabbed their hand and turned it into a handshake instead. But, it got me to thinking about all this since I decidedly look more pregnant by now at 20 weeks. My husband and I are attending a wedding this weekend and I think it is going to be a minefield of people (many whom I have not seen in years) wanting to touch the belly. Ugh! My dear husband, looked up online how one can handle this social issue and left the suggestions up for me to read. But my thoughts are - why the heck has it even gotten this far that a pregnant woman has to make up some excuse like "oh I'm so ticklish, that is not a good idea" when someone invades her privacy and personal space like that? Shouldn't we as a society be condemning belly rubbers instead? Can't I just break their fingers instead?
Chatboard (3)