I have to write a little (okay long) rant about a woman I think of as The Hyena. At the very least, it may help you feel better about all of the rude dimwits you have to endure for your own pregnancies.
Now I'm a fairly private person, so even at 20 weeks I still haven't announced my bundle of joy to the majority of my absolute furthest acquaintances. It's just not something I want to do... these people don't mean all that much to me, many of them are negative and gossipy, so I didn't want to potentially subject myself to any annoying/personal comments or questions. It would also be very unpleasant to have to share a miscarriage with these people should the worst happen. I see this as being my right to share or not to share, as it's happening in my body. I'm sure most people would agree. My bump isn't giving me away yet, so I am able to do this.
Well, enter The Hyena. Hyena also happens to be pregnant, although not as far along as I. Hyena is Hyena because of the high-pitched squeal she emits every time she laughs. It's enough to make a girl claw her palms in a desperate attempt at distracting from bleeding ears. Often I just leave the room when she enters it's that bad. There is no filter on this thing either. Very unpleasant, childish behaviour. I could go on, but I'm sure you get the point.
So Hyena unfortunately caught wind of my pregnancy through someone I felt more comfortable sharing with. This was certainly not part of the plan. This person admitted the flub and apologized profusely, but it was too late. Despite this person telling Hyena not to tell anyone because not everyone knows yet, the damage was done. Without approaching me, without congratulations, without having the decency to even confirm with me that I am indeed pregnant, Hyena proceeds to hurriedly blab about the inner workings of my uterus to my other distant strained acquaintances, and let the word out for all who barely know me to hear. Literally within hours, everyone who has ever met me in life knows I will be having a son, and for reasons unbeknownst to me, they all *care deeply* that I will be having a son.
The next time I see these people, they run up to me with an almost offended tone in their "congratulations!", asking me when I was going to finally tell them. What is wrong? Why haven't I shared? Everyone wants to know these things! Hyena was comfortable telling others the moment her egg was fertilized, therefore surely I should be as well? Thank goodness Hyena found out when she did so that she was able to save the day and blab this essential info.
Needless to say, I was a little miffed by all this. I went along with the comments, brushing things off, deflecting here and there, then shuffling away at the earliest convenience. The whole time I'm wondering to myself why The Hyena would do this. She is pregnant herself, surely she should understand the concept of personal boundaries during pregnancy... that it's the pregnant woman's place to announce a pregnancy to others and not some effective stranger's. Hyena and I do not speak much whatsoever. We are aware of each other's existence, and that's about as close as I allow things to progress. For clear reasons.
The next time I bump into Hyena, I mention to her this concern, and let her know I felt it was inappropriate for her to take it upon herself to announce my pregnancy for me. What am I talking about? she asks, trying to deny the behaviour. I let her know they told me it was her who blabbed. Oh... well, you ought to be happy about this! she says to me with a furrowed brow, insinuating that I mustn't be pleased with the fact that I am having a baby if I have a problem with her spilling the news without my consent.
It was at this point I was having trouble with my right hand... it wanted to reach over and plant a smack over her face so badly that I was worried I would be arrested that night for assault. It's been a while since this happened and I am still speechless over that comment. I mean, a fellow pregnant woman just accused me of being unhappily pregnant because I didn't appreciate her telling the world my news before I wanted it shared. If she wasn't and never had been pregnant, I wouldn't really be taken too aback by this because it could be chalked up to pure ignorance about the whole pregnancy process. But no, she's very aware of what she did, and what the words coming out of her mouth mean to someone who is carrying a child. She has given birth to several.
Incidentally, later that evening she was told off repeatedly by someone for a completely unrelated incident. This made me smile. I guess badly upsetting people is routine for Hyena.
If I could avoid her 100% believe me I would. But to make my living she must be present in a small part of my life. And really, people like this are everywhere. Wherever we go, there will always be obnoxious, self absorbed Hyenas who have nothing better to do with their time (even despite having a pregnancy of their own!) than to talk about others around them in inappropriate ways.
I just had to get this off my chest. Yes I already vented to the lovely OH, but he needs a break from my hormones. Thanks for listening, and please share your stories about the rude people you endure as well so I know I'm not alone
Now I'm a fairly private person, so even at 20 weeks I still haven't announced my bundle of joy to the majority of my absolute furthest acquaintances. It's just not something I want to do... these people don't mean all that much to me, many of them are negative and gossipy, so I didn't want to potentially subject myself to any annoying/personal comments or questions. It would also be very unpleasant to have to share a miscarriage with these people should the worst happen. I see this as being my right to share or not to share, as it's happening in my body. I'm sure most people would agree. My bump isn't giving me away yet, so I am able to do this.
Well, enter The Hyena. Hyena also happens to be pregnant, although not as far along as I. Hyena is Hyena because of the high-pitched squeal she emits every time she laughs. It's enough to make a girl claw her palms in a desperate attempt at distracting from bleeding ears. Often I just leave the room when she enters it's that bad. There is no filter on this thing either. Very unpleasant, childish behaviour. I could go on, but I'm sure you get the point.
So Hyena unfortunately caught wind of my pregnancy through someone I felt more comfortable sharing with. This was certainly not part of the plan. This person admitted the flub and apologized profusely, but it was too late. Despite this person telling Hyena not to tell anyone because not everyone knows yet, the damage was done. Without approaching me, without congratulations, without having the decency to even confirm with me that I am indeed pregnant, Hyena proceeds to hurriedly blab about the inner workings of my uterus to my other distant strained acquaintances, and let the word out for all who barely know me to hear. Literally within hours, everyone who has ever met me in life knows I will be having a son, and for reasons unbeknownst to me, they all *care deeply* that I will be having a son.
The next time I see these people, they run up to me with an almost offended tone in their "congratulations!", asking me when I was going to finally tell them. What is wrong? Why haven't I shared? Everyone wants to know these things! Hyena was comfortable telling others the moment her egg was fertilized, therefore surely I should be as well? Thank goodness Hyena found out when she did so that she was able to save the day and blab this essential info.
Needless to say, I was a little miffed by all this. I went along with the comments, brushing things off, deflecting here and there, then shuffling away at the earliest convenience. The whole time I'm wondering to myself why The Hyena would do this. She is pregnant herself, surely she should understand the concept of personal boundaries during pregnancy... that it's the pregnant woman's place to announce a pregnancy to others and not some effective stranger's. Hyena and I do not speak much whatsoever. We are aware of each other's existence, and that's about as close as I allow things to progress. For clear reasons.
The next time I bump into Hyena, I mention to her this concern, and let her know I felt it was inappropriate for her to take it upon herself to announce my pregnancy for me. What am I talking about? she asks, trying to deny the behaviour. I let her know they told me it was her who blabbed. Oh... well, you ought to be happy about this! she says to me with a furrowed brow, insinuating that I mustn't be pleased with the fact that I am having a baby if I have a problem with her spilling the news without my consent.
It was at this point I was having trouble with my right hand... it wanted to reach over and plant a smack over her face so badly that I was worried I would be arrested that night for assault. It's been a while since this happened and I am still speechless over that comment. I mean, a fellow pregnant woman just accused me of being unhappily pregnant because I didn't appreciate her telling the world my news before I wanted it shared. If she wasn't and never had been pregnant, I wouldn't really be taken too aback by this because it could be chalked up to pure ignorance about the whole pregnancy process. But no, she's very aware of what she did, and what the words coming out of her mouth mean to someone who is carrying a child. She has given birth to several.
Incidentally, later that evening she was told off repeatedly by someone for a completely unrelated incident. This made me smile. I guess badly upsetting people is routine for Hyena.
If I could avoid her 100% believe me I would. But to make my living she must be present in a small part of my life. And really, people like this are everywhere. Wherever we go, there will always be obnoxious, self absorbed Hyenas who have nothing better to do with their time (even despite having a pregnancy of their own!) than to talk about others around them in inappropriate ways.
I just had to get this off my chest. Yes I already vented to the lovely OH, but he needs a break from my hormones. Thanks for listening, and please share your stories about the rude people you endure as well so I know I'm not alone
congrats on your little boy anyway 
I totally see where you're coming from. I shared it on facebook. I'm not great at secrets and stuff. But, when I meet new people and they don't know it feels like a bit of a relief. It's just nice to take a break from all the people pretending to be oh so happy for you but they don't actually care. Then people say "OMG why didn't you say?!". Maybe because you'd at all excited like you are now even though it has no effect on your life what so ever -__-
