When a couple gives birth and starts a family, they have to make some boundaries with their families. Every family member wants to come and see the new baby, because who doesn’t want to meet their new grandchild, niece/nephew, or even sibling?
Families love to share in the miracle of life and celebrate newborn babies, but many times new parents have to put their foot down and set some clear and strict rules. This can range from the time they spend with the baby or even posting photos online, but parents oftentimes do request a few things when family comes by.
Recently, one Reddit user opened up about the rules she and her husband had made for their family visiting their newborn.
The 34-year-old mom and her 28-year-old husband welcomed their son on Christmas Day and, to “lessen visits from family,” they sent a list of rules out to their family in October that they would “demand” the family all follows in order to come to visit their newborn son.
With the Covid-19 pandemic still raging on, they wanted to be “careful” and specific with everyone.
Some of their rules are pretty common.
Most of their rules are rather common to have around newborn babies—like, requesting that every visitor is up to date on their vaccinations and if they are feeling sick, please do not come around the baby.
They also said they do not want any smokers to be around their newborn. And, they have specific hours for having people over, not too early and not too late.
They also asked that no one post photos without asking.
The couple also asked that no family members take photos and post them to social media, like Facebook or Instagram, without their consent or at all. They also said that “if they say no, it means no,” and they don’t have to explain themselves to anyone, as they are the baby’s parents and they make the calls.
Then, some rules got a little more unique.
Some of the other rules were a bit different.
“If you visit the first time you will be expected to give mom (me) a gift card and a gift for baby from our approved list.
Before you ever come no matter how many times you will be give a list of a ether food or groceries to bring with you AND a chore for a list of your choosing,” the mom wrote.
She then shared the “issue” she was having with her SIL who wanted to come and visit their baby.
The mom said her SIL texted her asking if she can come to visit her nephew, as she goes to college on the other side of the country and she is leaving to go back to school soon. They set up a date and time for her to come, and then texted her a “link” with gift choices and chores she can do.
However, the SIL said that she can’t afford to get the gift, and asked if she can do “extra chores” instead when she comes.
The couple decided they don’t want to “bend the rules” for just one person.
The couple told the SIL that if they bend the rules for one person, it wouldn’t work because they had the rules set from the beginning. Instead of letting her come over, they suggested she come by another time when she can afford it. However, the SIL said that she won’t be back from school until June next, which is months away. They simply told her “no.”
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The next day, the mom’s in-laws texted the couple saying they were using their baby as a “cash grab,” and that they are wrong.
“She left this morning and we got multiple texts for my in-laws belittling us for using our child as a cash grab, my husband simply replied it was our rules and no one deserves special treatment then told his family they were on a time out and blocked them,” the mom wrote.
Now, many people are judging the couple, saying they’re wrong for not “understanding” that she’s a broke college student who just wants to see her nephew.
People online happened to agree with the in-laws on this one.
Many Reddit users called the couple “gold diggers” and that they are out of line for asking people to bring gifts every single time they come over to see the baby. Most of the time, people bring gifts for the baby regardless, but to insist they bring food and gifts for the mom is just “out of line.”
Many also said the chore list is “extra.”
leftytrash161 said that they get asking people to help out, especially family, when you have a newborn at home. And, most of the time people do pitch in because new parents are having long, sleepless nights. However, having a chore list for “every single visitor” is taking it way too far. You should let people offer, not demand it from them.
Others said this is how they are going to “lose everyone around them.”
Some Reddit users also commented that this family is going to “isolate” their friends and family from them entirely, and in turn, isolate their baby from many people too. Eventually, people are going to get sick of their rules and decide it’s easier to “not see them” than continuously spend money and time just to “bow down to them.”
This does seem a bit aggressive, no?
h/t Reddit .
