If there's anything we've learned in the past ten years, it's definitely to not comment on people's weight - and also not to mention people's pregnancies, unless they directly mention it to you. This means avoiding questions such as 'when is your baby due?' or 'is it a boy or a girl?' unless the person you've assumed is pregnant has brought up the fact they're expecting.
A woman took to Mumsnet to express her horror at the fact a woman had mentioned her pregnancy bump - but she explained that she's 55 and "one stone overweight", not pregnant. She was mortified that the woman had assumed she was pregnant, and asked whether she was being unreasonable to think the woman was rude.
She wrote: "I am 55 years old, menopausal, 5ft6 tall, and a stone overweight.
"Whilst walking the dogs this morning with my friend, a woman with a shy dog asked if she could join in our walk for a bit to help build her dog's confidence. We say yes and say a few friendly things to the woman. She then talks about my pregnancy bump.
"When I say I'm not pregnant, she apologised. Am I being unreasonable that you should not assume people are pregnant if they are 55 YEARS OLD (I have a bit of grey in my hair) and one stone overweight? I thought this was incredibly rude and it really hurt my feelings. How can this possibly be a genuine mistake? Has anyone else had this happen?"
People did sympathise with the woman, but also said she should try and flip her perspective and try to take it as a compliment.
One wrote: "I'd be hurt too. But turn it on its head, you clearly look way younger than your age. I'm sure she was mortified, I don't know why people mention things like this unless they are 100% sure."
Another agreed, commenting: "I mean, you shouldn't assume anyone is pregnant unless they explicitly tell you so yes she was rude there and you're not unreasonable to be hurt by it."
One fumed: "People just carry their weight differently and I don't know what possesses strangers to comment on it. It says more about her than about you but I'd have been p***** off too."
Someone else said it happened to her but she took it with a pinch of salt, writing: "Happened to me many moons ago in a beauty parlour. I was wearing a loose dress so have to forgive the perpetrator of the query about when my baby was due! I felt a bit embarrassed but hey ho no harm done!"
One Mumsnetter said: "Under no circumstances should anyone comment on your stomach and just assume you are pregnant. Sure, it might be nice to know that she thinks you are younger but it would really knock my confidence someone commenting on my belly!"
Would you be offended by this? Let us know in the comments.
