The question which should never be asked

[mysid]

Hubby and I had "a night out" tonight. He was in a golf tournament this weekend, and tonight was a dinner-dance-thingy at the golf club.

I left the house feeling good. My hair had cooperated, my makeup looked good, and I'd found an outfit that fit, was comfortable, and looked pretty good--I thought. I was feeling as pretty as a heavy girl can.

I spotted my mother-in-law at the party and went over to say hello. She introduced me to the two women she was speaking to. One asked, "So, when are you due?"

I said, with a smile, "I'm not pregnant," and watched the mortification begin to creep over her face.

My MIL, trying desperately to change the subject, said, "Jennifer is the one I told you has twins." (The two women she was conversing with were married to a pair of twins.)

Rude woman seized on it as her out, "Oh, were they just born?" Please tell me it's babyweight.

"No, they're seven years old."



I am embarassed to say, this wasn't the first time I've been asked this horrible question, but each time, I hope I'll never hear it again. I know that woman will never, ever ask it of anyone again, but does everyone in the world have to ask me before they learn not to put their feet in their mouths?
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Comments

[secretsolitaire.livejournal.com]

Oh, hon. *hugs* I agree that this question should be retired from polite (or impolite, as the case may be) conversation. I know too many people who have been on both ends of this awkward situation! This woman's follow-up question was particularly rude, given the fact that she already had her foot halfway down her throat.

Hope you had a good night out otherwise!

[mysid.livejournal.com]

I guess some people just aren't satisfied until they have both feet in their mouths.

And yes, I did have a pretty nice night out. Sort of.

[lls-mutant.livejournal.com]

::hugs:: That really sucks, and was quite rude. (I never ask when a woman is due unless she's just said, "guess what? I'm pregnant!" It was actually kind of funny because most of my neighbors were guessing I might be, and were afraid to ask.)

People like that should be bonked on the head.

[mysid.livejournal.com]

I'm the same way. I once went to a party at which another guest was an old college friend. She was very pregnant (triplets!), but she'd always been heavy. Neither Hubby nor I dared to presume that she was pregnant until she actually said so.

[my-cnnr.livejournal.com]

oh my, sweetie...

*hugs*

raised by wolves - the lot of them...

[mysid.livejournal.com]

Now that's just an insult to the poor wolves. Wolves would have more class.

[my-cnnr.livejournal.com]

*chuckle*

quite true - and something my ddaughter calls me on each and every time I use that expression...but you know, the one I scrubbed - the first that came to mind - involved a comment on the fact that those women must clearly have been raised...erm....north of the Mason Dixon, and as we're newly friended, I didn't want to raise my rebel yell quite yet...one never knows just how it will be received ;)

so - I stand corrected...yes, wolves have an inherent respect for one another, much more so than humans...but then they'd have been snuffling 'round your bottom, too....

[mysid.livejournal.com]

This Yankee thanks you for your restraint.

[yuan-18.livejournal.com]

My reaction to this post can be summed up to: *PALM RAISES* *FOREHEAD SMACK*

[mysid.livejournal.com]

Only if I can smack her forehead.

[yuan-18.livejournal.com]

*chuckles* I was smacking my own, but yes, she could use a smack too. Won't say where.