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What would you think if you received this?

(758 Posts)
2old4this Sat 30-Oct-21 16:32:08

A friend of mine received this message from her daughter, the baby will be her 1st GC, she is deeply upset. What would you think if you received this?

Meeting baby girl rules

Please respect that we would like time before you meet our baby girl for some rest ,to heal and for us to 1. Get a routine in place and for us to enjoy the moment first and bond ?

We will invite you over when we feel ready (2weeks) please no unexpected visits ❤️

We would feel more relaxed if you did a covid test before coming over ?

Please no Kisses, while we are still surrounded by covid and being winter colds, we would appreciate no kissing baby girl while her immune system is still weaker ? (includesWe will probably face time you all at some pint in the first few days and keep you updated within the 2 week window
This has been sent to all our family and friends xxx washing hands before holding her)

When you are invited over please don’t expect us to be making coffees or entertainment (not that’s you would ?) we will be exhausted! ?

Thank you ?

hollysteers Sun 31-Oct-21 13:56:49

Sounds as if the expectant mother has been taking pregnancy lessons from Meghan Markle. I wonder if the OP’s sister will find out who the godparents are?
On the other hand, if the MIL is overbearing and interfering, all is fair in love and war.
In either case, Noel Coward was right
“Just rise above it darling”.

Namsnanny Sun 31-Oct-21 13:55:40

Honestly, all this carry on I dont know anyone who is like this in RL.

I kind of do rafichagran ?shock

Smileless2012 Sun 31-Oct-21 13:53:42

I totally agree with you Namsnanny and also think some "people are looking for ways to be too controlling, Poor baby."

Namsnanny Sun 31-Oct-21 13:50:44

The hearts are patronising, so is the general gist.
I would no sooner have thought of expecting teas and visits etc. My only thought would be to support the new parents with practical help.

The no kissing rule is a fine, but visitors have to be allowed to visit before this can happen!

Bonding with baby? Doesnt need exclusion from other people for that to happen. It started in the womb.
Sometimes I think people are looking for ways to be too controlling.
Poor baby.

Norah Sun 31-Oct-21 13:43:04

To the question, I assume Mum is pushy and entitled. Mum can look forward to estrangement with that demanding attitude.

greenlady102 Sun 31-Oct-21 13:25:16

oh....so the drip feed arrives..... It sounds like the note was needed!

Norah Sun 31-Oct-21 13:22:11

Mum set herself up by asking again after being told no. Mum needs to wait until DD invites her in 2-3 weeks.

VioletSky Sun 31-Oct-21 12:23:15

Madgran77

*Sorry, I really don't understand why you would think that at all. It doesn't make any logical sense. Hope you are OK*

Ofcourse I'm OK! confused

Your comment was specifically to me and started with "Well..." which in itself comes over as a response specifically to something someone has said. It doesn't have to be logical to you, it is just how I read it so I responded.

Anyway this is hardly relevant to the OP who I hope is finding at least dome of tge comments that have stated on topic useful!

OK Madgran

LovelyCuppa Sun 31-Oct-21 12:15:38

I'd be fine with this to be honest. It's just not something I could get my knickers in a knot about!

Yammy Sun 31-Oct-21 12:03:47

None of us really know what the family dynamics are in this family . We are being asked to comment on something that we might or might not have experience with.
We all base our answers partly on our own experiences and the dynamics within our own family.
We can guess why it was written or where it was copied from.
This is an aggrieved mother getting a letter from her daughter who doesn't seem to be able to get through to her in any other way and aunty has joined in by posting it here. It is obvious who's side aunty is on.
All our families are different and when we had babies it was different, we can't expect the current generation to share our views.
How many of us shared our mothers or MIL's I certainly didn't even down to the way a nappy was folded or putting the baby in their own room from birth or outside in its pram whatever the weather.
As I said earlier I just hope the girl never finds out it was posted.
Like others have said wait for the phone call grandma they will soon start. But don't push the issue.

MissAdventure Sun 31-Oct-21 10:40:16

I think they're saying it because they are grandparents who have been asked to help out.
Very often to the detriment of their own wellbeing.

rafichagran Sun 31-Oct-21 10:39:15

What alot of fuss about nothing, why cant the daughter stop the car outside the Mothers house, let her look at the baby, without getting out of the car, and off they go. This could be arranged before hand.
Honestly all this carry on. I dont know anyone who behaves like this in real life.
As for the text I dont know anyone who would send a communication like that. As for dont expect us not to make tea and coffee as we will be exhausted, talk about making a meal of it. If Mother is with the baby surely the Father could be polite enough to offer the guests a cup of tea.
I just find the daughter pretentious and a bit of a pain.
I have never come across anything like it thank goodness. I was out shopping in less than a week when my son was born. I also had my daughter. Everyone stopped and looked at the baby. I welcomed it.
Also I hope this daughter then does not ask the Gran for childcare, these days people like the OP's daughter have all these rules, but get upset when Gran refuses to look after the child when it is convenient for them.
Like I said above, this is not normal with the people I know, we just get on with life and enjoy it.

LtEve Sun 31-Oct-21 10:38:37

I’m not sure why people are saying that the new parents will soon be asking for help with feeding, sleeping etc. My Mum, lovely though she was, was the last person I’d ask for help, she didn’t breastfeed and safe sleeping wasn’t something she knew anything about. I asked my sister who had slightly older children. I also wasn’t exhausted post birth, it’s not always a given especially now dads get 2 weeks paternity leave and are generally a little more used to sharing domestic chores.
Fortunately my parents were the least demanding grandparents who never overstepped, never gave advice unless it was asked for and were therefore always welcome.

highlanddreams Sun 31-Oct-21 10:38:15

GrannyLaine : You had a rough experience there highland dreams I was so fortunate in that with each of my four babies, either my Mum or Mum in Law came to help out. And help out they did - cooked meals, played with the other children & took them out to give me time to rest and recuperate. Never ever did they overstep the mark. And with that role model in mind, I took the same approach with each and every one of my grandchildren as they arrived. New parents need nurture and space to grow into confident parents. I have a lovely memory of one of my daughters in the early days of breastfeeding, phoning me in the small hours, close to tears saying " Mum, you know how you've always said if it all gets too much to ring you? Well I'm ringing you...."
And I went in a heartbeat,

It was rough and draining, so much so that I swore I would not do that to my children. When my son and daughter were having their babies I told them both I wouldn't push in or give lots of unwanted advice, but I would be there whenever they wanted & help with whatever they asked for anytime & every time they needed me and do things their way ,not mine. They loved that I said that from the outset because they knew I would give them the space they needed while still being a helpful loving mum and nanna.

MissAdventure Sun 31-Oct-21 10:26:12

It's possible to have a new family whilst still retaining the old one.
Lots of people manage it just fine.

Calistemon Sun 31-Oct-21 10:24:25

But the round robin text/email etc is just OTT

I expect everyone can look forward to years of hilarious Round Robins at Christmas for years and years

HolySox Sun 31-Oct-21 10:23:54

2old4this

This is in fact my niece writing to her mother, my sister.
My sister spoke to daughter inviting them to stop off on the way back from hospital so that she could meet baby, she was told firmly no, they would not call in, despite my sisters house being en route home. Even if they just stopped the car so that my sister could have a peek. No. She then received this message, and sister phoned daughter again to say 'but I'm your mum......" only to be told that the other grandma didn't have a problem, the answer is still No! I'm deeply annoyed with my niece. The baby is due in 8 weeks

2old4this -your sister expects her daughter to 'drop in' on the way home from hospital with a new born. And your annoyed at your neice! Wrong!

This, no doubt with other unreported demands from your sister, will have precipitated the message. Maybe this is the only way your neice can deal with the situation - an overbearing mother.

My sympathies are entirely with your neice. She will have a new family now. You should encourage your sister to back right off else you could be posting on the estrangement threads.

JackyB Sun 31-Oct-21 10:20:40

I think it's fine. I didn't notice the hearts until others mentioned them. I would be happy to see the baby over Skype until they think it's safe to have contact. Of course, they may change their tune once the baby is born. If they know even now that they will be exhausted, they might give in and accept help.

Madgran77 Sun 31-Oct-21 09:57:32

I find the whole thing depressing, such a lack of communication and understanding not to mention give and take…on all sides.

Yup. Communication is two way and much more than just saying it! Sad.

eazybee Sun 31-Oct-21 09:53:48

Pretentious.

Shropshirelass Sun 31-Oct-21 09:50:30

Under the circumstances I agree with them. First baby is strange to get used to managing. I think they are spot on!

Madgran77 Sun 31-Oct-21 09:50:28

Sorry, I really don't understand why you would think that at all. It doesn't make any logical sense. Hope you are OK

Ofcourse I'm OK! confused

Your comment was specifically to me and started with "Well..." which in itself comes over as a response specifically to something someone has said. It doesn't have to be logical to you, it is just how I read it so I responded.

Anyway this is hardly relevant to the OP who I hope is finding at least dome of tge comments that have stated on topic useful!

Lucca Sun 31-Oct-21 09:46:23

I find the whole thing depressing, such a lack of communication and understanding not to mention give and take…on all sides.

MayBeMaw Sun 31-Oct-21 09:39:21

My sister spoke to daughter inviting them to stop off on the way back from hospital so that she could meet baby, she was told firmly no, they would not call in, despite my sisters house being en route home

I think this is hilarious!
Entitled or what??

Franbern Sun 31-Oct-21 09:28:24

Oh dear. Lovely young couple, waiting their first baby and trying, so desperately hard to be very organised. Probably doomed for disaster. In a way it is quite amusing.

So often it is those who are far too organised that end up having problems with enternally crying baby, etc. Back when my were small, my next door neighbour had her first child, so organised spent the last months preparing loads of meals for the freezer. When the midwife saw that at six months pregnant they had already insgtalled n their car devices for securing carrycot (as it was back then) she got really concerned. All went out of window when baby arrived, Mum was so tense with doing everything right, that baby picked up on it and cried day and night. Midwive was also concerned at how tidy the house with a new baby init still was.
I would not be upset with this message, would put aside carefully, and in years to come whole family can have a good laugh about it.
I do think the last line about making tea/coffee etc is relevant. I always used to advice friends becoming g.parents to offer to do things like shopping, washing, ironing for new parents, NOT baby-sit.
Assuming baby will be totally breast-fed then they will have quite a strong immune system from Mums milk.