Quiz! You see before you...
Jun. 22nd, 2014 05:09 pmWhen you see a person who is visibly pregnant, you feel:
ETA:
- vaguely grossed out and embarrassed for her, as though you were seeing someone loudly hawk up phlegm or perform some other unattractive and probably sticky biological function in public.
- a protective tenderness. You want to offer her a seat, or get her a snack, or stand between her and the person who’s about to try to touch her belly.
- a creeping biological horror, as if watching a video of Cordyceps fungus infesting an ant, changing its behavior, killing it, and erupting from the back of its head.
- like giving her a high-five!
- a strange, slight jealousy. You don’t want to be pregnant; and yet.
- an impotent terror, as if watching someone trip and fall towards a counter and reflexively put out their hand down into the sink where a garbage disposal is running. You want to shriek NOOOO! STOP! and you know it is far, far too late.
- welcoming. Another member has joined the club; you’ll have so much to talk about, and now there will be someone else who always has wet wipes that you can borrow.
- a jealousy so strong it tastes bitter. If she already has children, you might have to just look away; keep your face still.
- pleased that you might have found someone who could use your outgrown newborn clothes, or baby swing.
- irrationally terrified that she might break her water or throw up or something and you’ll have to deal with it.
ETA:
- "Better you than me, sister."