They are the words that few husbands, boyfriends, male friends, or really just any guy wants to hear: “Do I look fat (like I’ve gained weight, my belly’s bigger, etc.)?” It doesn’t matter what context it is in, inevitably it is a trap for the male species. You can train yourself like Ross in Friends to say “no” instantly, but to no avail - you will make a critical misstep in your words. Now this is the normal situation in life and I have adapted to it. But now my correct answer to this precarious pronouncement is all higgeldy-piggeldy. Why you ask? Well simply put, we are now at the place in pregnancy where Jooae is showing, sort-of. And herein lies the problem. You see, Jooae wants to be showing a little bit. Therefore when she asks me, “Is my belly getting bigger?” I literally am at a loss of what to say. If I go with the centuries male-bred answer of “no” then a sad little furrow flits across her face. That just crushes my heart. If I say yes, I would be plotting entirely new ground where great uncertainty exists as to what her response will be. Will she jump up ecstatically because she finally looks pregnant or will she give me a seering look that says, “You just called me fat!” What is a good husband to do? I pretty much have thrown caution to the wind and answered something like, “It seems your showing a bit but you just ate so maybe it’s that.” Yeah, I know, it’s the wimp way out, but I have to encourage her while at the same time preserve my life. The good thing is that in the last week or so, it is pretty evident that she is “officially” showing. Phew. But this brings another problem.
Now that she is showing and gaining some weight after losing it from ‘morning’ sickness, she is complaining of getting fat. I just look at her and excitedly state, “That’s great! that is how it is supposed to be!” I was a little surprised when she gave me THE LOOK 9guys you know what I am talking about). I mean, here I am excited she is finally eating and putting on weight and was (apparently foolishly) she would be feeling the same. I suppose I have still much to learn about the changing whims of a pregnant woman. that’s okay, i am a good student these days.
