My Big Mistake

I think I made a big mistake.

No. Scratch that.

I know I made a big mistake.

Let me explain.

Early in my pregnancy, I decided that I was not going to let pregnancy slow me down. No matter how sick I was, no matter how uncomfortable I became, no matter how hot it was - pregnancy would not stop me from accomplishing all the things I like to accomplish in a day, a week, or a month.

Sure, there were nights in that nasty first trimester when I had no other choice but to go to bed at 8 pm because I fell asleep on the couch, but I always made sure I had things in order before I let myself lay down on the couch.

So, because of that attitude, when people began to find out I was pregnant and started treating me differently, it sometimes bothered me. Don't get me wrong, I appreciated the kindness that people extended to me and I completely understood that it was all with good intentions, but I sometimes had trouble accepting it.

When people would ask me if I wanted to put my feet up, if they could help me carry things, if I would prefer to sit in the more comfortable chair - I would always smile and politely decline, "No, thanks. I'm fine".

These moments began to happen more and more often as I became visibly pregnant. And that's when I made the mistake.

One time, after a particular instance, I came home to my Dude and said, "I get that people have good intentions, and I appreciate the kindness, but seriously, I'm pregnant, I'm not crippled."

Ah, how silly of me to utter that phrase.

Because now, as I swiftly approach the 8th month of my pregnancy, I have discovered that I was incredibly naive in those early days. Now I understand that pregnancy does, in fact, slow me down.

While the size of my pregnant belly increases as quickly as the temperature outside, I have discovered that I have to let some things go. I cannot do everything as quickly or as effortlessly as I used to do. I cannot complete my 5 km walk as swiftly (heck, sometimes I can't complete it at all), I cannot lift heavy-ish objects as easily, and I cannot move as gracefully.

But, the trouble is ... my sweet, Fabulous Dude will nary forget the day when I uttered those words "I'm pregnant, I'm not crippled".

Now, whenever I make even the slightest attempt to pull out the ever trusty pregnancy card around him, he throws it right back in my face.

"Sweetie, can you help me unload the dishwasher? My legs are a bit sore today."

"Nah, you're only pregnant, you're not crippled."

"Babe, would you mind running me a bubble bath?"

"Why? You can do it yourself. You're pregnant, not crippled."

"Love, can you rub my feet while I fall asleep?"

"I don't think so ... you're pregnant, not crippled."

Do you see what I mean when I say that I made a huge mistake?

***

**Just as a side note, the Dude has actually been quite sensitive and accommodating to the "state that I am in" ... he often does help with the dishes, run my bath, and rub my feet - the problem is, I unknowingly gave him this ammunition to use against me, and he sometimes goes ahead and uses it.