Five days a week, I take a overheated, overcrowded, under ventilated metro (subway) to go to work. Five mornings and five evening of public transportation during rush hour (20 minutes each way).In Montreal, some seats are reserved for senior/handicap/pregnant ladies in each wagon. In general, people are nice enough to give up their precious seat for me. And I thank them immensely each time!
However, I'm always amazed by the creativity used my some passengers to avoid losing their, as I call it, ass support. There is always the "I use my IPad so I didn't see you", the "I suddenly fell asleep", the "What is that little thing on my winter coat that will keep me busy until my station", the "I must have a People magazine in my purse that I find super captivating", etc.
I went to the doctor today for a regular appointment and I still have a month and a half of pregnant belly jiggling in the metro before I can stop working. Until that day, well, there is not much I can do except rub my belly in a tender way hoping that it will charm somebody out of "my" reserved seat!
7 comments:
TOTALLY.
our "reserved seats" on the street car aren't for pregnant ladies. the sign only says handicapped, so I'm hedging my bets that most people wouldn't get up. I don't quite have a big enough belly that shows through my coat so I don't even get those nice "take my seat" people. I just rub my belly and stand holding on for dear life while the street car whizzes down the street. luckily for me, the morning commute is hardly busy at all and I always get a seat. evenings? I sware - come the new year everyone's resolution must have been to drive less. there is hardly standing room!
I hate to admit that once or twice in many years when I have been very tired and had a sore back I have shut my eyes and not looked to see if anyone needed my special seat. Usually though, if someone elderly or pregnant gets on I will jump up - even if I am not sitting in the special seats.
I always do my best to give my seat to someone who needs it more than I do... but I admit, sometimes at the end of a long day, I really don't notice! I'm so sorry to all the pregnant ladies I've made stand while I spaced out on the way home!
And I think a lot of people are afraid of insulting a woman, assuming she's pregnant, when she's actually not. Though rubbing your belling is a pretty good sign of an actual pregnancy. I don't know of many non-pregnant women who stand around rubbing their bellies!
You can also be direct and say politely 'I'm so sorry, these seats are reserved for pregnant women among others, and today I really need it'. Better for everyone than the passive-aggressive thing.. and more effective too.
Oh you poor thing. I remember the metro quite well from my trip to montreal in your Summer '09. It was hot, humid and loud! You need to firmly ask for a seat!
Goodness, some people. This reminds me of when I was pregnant with Bear and travelling on the London tube, as I got on the train another woman nearly pushed me over in her struggle to get to a seat before me. I was so gobsmacked, but a really kind gentleman spoke up and asked the lady if she were with child or disabled, really loudly! The woman (who of course wasn't) shook her head meekly, and he asked her if she was not pregnant or disabled why she felt it was appropiate to wrestle a heavily pregnant woman for a seat, he then gave up his own seat so I could sit down, whilst everyone in the carriage looked at the rude woman who was by now bright red and hopefully feeling very ashamed! I always give up my seat for the elderley, pregnant or mums with small kids, but sadly, some people have no manners! Hang in there and big hugs to you, the work commute sucks when you are preggers!
I hear ya lady! I always felt people would pretend not to see me when I entered the metro or the bus. My worst experience was getting in a bus when I was 38 weeks pregnant and no one got up to let big fat pregnant me sit down. Finally after standing for 5 min it was a 55 year-old lady (!) who offered her seat to me...and by the time I wobbled along to it, a sneaky old man sat down in it! I thought I was going to cry (hormones!).
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