Great article, always timely advice. Probably the most unexpected and rude comment that I ever overheard occurred when my then-wife was between seven and eight months through her first pregnancy. Prior to her pregnancy, she had a normal build for a woman in her twenties--not skinny but by no means plus-sized. So when she started to show, it was all up front.

in any event, I had been elected as a delegate to the Hawai'i Democratic state convention. It was a three-day event and spouses could attend if they desired to do so. To my surprise, Lois wanted to go (she didn't have a strong interest in politics, but this was before cell phones and I think she was nervous about going into labor prematurely and being unable to contact me).

For the entire three days, the same woman--who happened to be a state senator--sat directly behind us. On the afternoon of the final day, she suddenly leaned forward and tapped Lois on the shoulder. "I'm sorry," she whispered, "but I have been watching you for the past three days and I just have to know: are you pregnant or just fat?"

With tact like that, I have no idea how she managed to get elected, but neither of us have ever forgotten it.