#thefuckingworst

That is not how I wanted today to go 🤦🏼‍♀️🙄

This article!  Yes!  100% yes to all of it. 

If you're sick of hearing me talk about (read: complain) my experiences on the MTA as a very visibly pregnant woman than I suggest you stop reading all together.  Because unless the majority of MTA riders get some manners in the next two months then I don't imagine my experiences changing for the better. 

I recently overheard a man tell his female companion (when she nudged him and pointed to me instead of offering up her own seat), "she's just pregnant, she can stand."  And up until a few weeks ago I sort of agreed.  I am just pregnant. I'm not unhealthy nor am I not-able-bodied.  But then things started to change. My pelvis started to hurt 24 hours a day and my energy took a nose dive and everything started to feel weighed down and I started to feel tired all the fucking time. And you know what? I also started to accept the fact that I am pregnant, I'm growing a human, and that it's not easy work. So while I can stand for 45 minutes on the subway into work it is very uncomfortable and exhausting.  And I will gladly and graciously accept a seat if offered.  Thank you.

After several months of being visibly pregnant and riding public transportation I can tell you this much - grown ass men rarely ever give up their seat for me. It's usually always other women and teenagers (shocking, I know!).  You know what those dudes do instead?  They look at my belly, glace around nervously, and then bury their faces in their newspaper and / or smartphone.  Nice.

Here is my message for all able-bodied men out there:

I see how you all handle a fucking cold and with that knowledge I am 100% confident that the human race would cease to exist if you were the ones who had do deal with pregnancy and childbirth. So the least you can do is show some human decency, kindness, and respect when you see a pregnant woman cross your path.  And close your legs. You are not entitled to take up that much space.

P.S. I've already told Jason that this child will never, ever sit on a subway bench unless there happens to be more available seats than asses on that particular day.