You're right to recognize a feeling of dread here. That advice will come, and it will often be ..... just ...... crazy. There will also be people who just randomly come up to you and put their hands on you belly. A certain segment of the male population will start using overly appeasing language and letting you know they understand about your hormones like you're about to blow up. This is out ofnplace because irs usually over something so minor it's ridiculous, like asking the clerk at the gas station if they have an ATM machine or Cheetos that aren't Flamin' Hot.

As soon as your belly starts showing, you'll find some people now find you to be extremely incompetent. About everything. Literally everything. This dynamic is beyond weird.

One of the things I was very proactive about that I have zero regrets about was shutting that shit down. Doing so did wonders for my stress levels. You're allowed boundaries of decency and privacy. Being pregnant doesn't make you public property or game for public consumption. Just because they foeget for a while doesn't mean you have to tolerate the constant intrusions and mistreatment they would never do to someone else.

Congratulations. Today is your first Mother's Day. This will be the only one for you and your baby alone because you get to have it before commercialization sets in. Hope you have a great one and are enjoying your journey. All my best.