Baby on Board - and I should move because?

A woman steps onto a crowded morning rush-hour train.

She looks no different to the other passengers, already weary though the day has not  yet started.

She is slim,  smartly-dressed, carrying a work case and a black umbrella tucked under her arm.

But there is something different about her, she casts her eyes along the row of passengers scowling at those seated.

She “tuts” under her breath and looks to me for acknowledgement that she has somehow been wronged by the other fare-payers.

I too am propped up against a metal pole as the train chugs sluggishly to my destination.

It is as she shuffles under her coat, purposely shifting her position to show her lapel that I realise why she considers herself more worthy of a seat than everyone else.

Proudly displayed is a white badge, slightly out of keeping with the rest of her attire, which states boldly “Baby On Board”.

I take a glance at her navel area, she doesn’t look like she is heavily pregnant, but maybe she is recently with child.

Still, as far as she is concerned that entitles her to special treatment on London’s buses, tubes and trains for the next nine months.

Why? I’m not quite sure.

Neither do I grasp why she would want to wear a big white sticker on their jacket alerting the world to what she has recently been up to in the bedroom, if it’s all the same to you madam, I’d rather not know.

If a heavily-pregnant woman gets on public transport then of course I would expect someone to stand up and offer her their seat, much as I would if it was an elderly or disabled passenger.

But to think getting knocked-up immediately elevates you to the position of first-class VIP travelling guest, is a bit naff to say the least.

I'm asthmatic, but I don’t wear a big badge saying “Can’t Breath”.

Neither do  people announce their bunions, arthritis, sore backs or other ailments to get priority seating.

So why do we all have to start jumping up and down and just because someone is pregnant. 

It's as irritating a those signs you see in the back of people's cars saying "princess on board" as you pull up to see some toothless brat wearing a tiara grinning back at you.

WHO CARES??!

By all means, have as many children as you like, all I ask is that you pay for them (I suppose I’ll pick up the tab for the birth and the first 16 years of it’s education) and don’t inconvenience me in the process.

I happened upon another of these irritating demands to “get out of my way I’m up the duff” in Starbucks while sitting minding my own business with a coffee.

As usual it was full and I had waited and eventually nabbed a table and was waiting for a meeting.

A woman carrying a tray shuffled among the tables, glowering at everyone seated, waiting for one of them to stop what they were doing, get up and allow her to sit down.

There it was, hanging from her coat, the sign that said: “I’m perfectly capable of standing but I’m pregnant so budge”.

The others  didn’t stand up.

Respect others, be helpful and considerate to others who may be struggling and give up your seat to those genuinely in need – but don’t start throwing your weight around because of a bun in the oven.