https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 18 Apr 2026 01:58:05 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/family-reunionanxiety-about-small-talk#post-1820551 Sun, 17 Aug 2014 20:13:42 +0000 Tanjowen 1820551@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsRcCar: I know how frustrating this can be, so my sympathies! I ended up just smiling and firmly stating, "Unless you are coming to my house overnight to deal with an unhappy baby from (fill in the blank...feeding them new foods and ignoring naps &amp; bedtime in my family's case), then nope!"</p> <p>I try to say it with a little smile and then move on, and it's worked somewhat on my mom and sister. I think people are just very short-sorted and don't tend to think about long-term cause and effect, so I try to get that point across. I also really agree with the baby-wearing to control what happens. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/family-reunionanxiety-about-small-talk#post-1820052 Sun, 17 Aug 2014 08:53:26 +0000 JerricaBenton 1820052@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've found that if you smile and answer confidently, something simple like 'this is working really well for us' there isn't much someone can come back with. If you seem like you aren't comfortable with your choices (even if it's just because you're trying not to rock the boat) people like that see it as an invitation to make you change your mind. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/family-reunionanxiety-about-small-talk#post-1820047 Sun, 17 Aug 2014 08:47:00 +0000 MrsRcCar 1820047@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird: That is a good way to handle it I suppose. Hoping I don't have to deal with the comments at all.<br /> @ShootingStar: Most of my family think "modern" day doctors are too cautious and are only it for the money. I am always hearing " well we are all here aren't we." </p> <p>Most of my family think I am some kind of hippie because I try natural medicine and remedies before modern medicine. I am what my family would consider crunchy because I baby wear and Breastfreeding until at least a year. Plus I am weird because I plan to keep my boys rear facing on their car seats until I absolutely can't anymore. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/family-reunionanxiety-about-small-talk#post-1820006 Sun, 17 Aug 2014 07:22:34 +0000 blackbird 1820006@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You can also say, "you know, I don't want to discuss this" and force them to end the dissuasion. If they keep it up, walk away. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/family-reunionanxiety-about-small-talk#post-1819992 Sun, 17 Aug 2014 06:33:27 +0000 ShootingStar 1819992@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would just wear him the whole time. If someone close wants to hold him, just stick by their side the entire time. And screw other people's comments. My grandma made tons of comments when he was 5 WEEKS about how he'd need to eat less often if I gave him a bottle with rice cereal, lol. She had good intentions and was really thought it would help me out. But I just kept saying the pediatrician says you can't do that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/family-reunionanxiety-about-small-talk#post-1819983 Sun, 17 Aug 2014 05:56:29 +0000 MrsRcCar 1819983@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BabyBoecksMom: yeah I plan on wearing him and I hope he will sleep for the most part. Part of me hopes that E is crabby the whole time so no one wants to hold him. :silly: The reunion is during nap time for both kids. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/family-reunionanxiety-about-small-talk#post-1819970 Sun, 17 Aug 2014 04:50:10 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 1819970@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsRcCar: Has it really been that long already?? wow! Can you wear him? That was the easiest way for me to keep people from grabbing C and trying to let her "try" things (ice cream!?)</p> <p>I know it's easier said than done for me to say "brush off the comments", but I think you're just going to have to nod and smile for the most part. I'm sorry :-( People like that are just so set in their ways and never seem understand how there's an alternative to the way they did it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/family-reunionanxiety-about-small-talk#post-1819940 Sun, 17 Aug 2014 00:54:39 +0000 MrsRcCar 1819940@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So later today (as it is nearly 2 am and I can't sleep). I am packing up my two kids and headed to a family reunion with my mum.<br /> My family is generally pretty mellow but they make remarks that just make my skin crawl sometimes. For example: my grandmother just can't believe that E only gets breast milk (he is 6 months old, 5 months adjusted). She had all her kids sleeping through the night at 3 months putting cereal in their bottles.<br /> What is worse for me is how dismissive my extended family is about E being a preemie. I realize that he was not in the hospital very long and on the large side for a preemie but regardless he still arrived early, and still required high level care that without he wouldn't be here today. In my extended family we have a another preemie but she was closer two months early. So clearly I have no idea what a "real" preemie is. :/<br /> Plus I am a worried that people will just give N anything he reachs for if I am not paying extreme attention to him at all times because he can't be allergic to all of things I say. I am just clearly looking for something new for him to get attention. Lucky for me my mum understands the importance of watching what N eats. </p> <p>I guess I am just a little nervous/ anxious about this reunion later today and I could use advice on how to handle the comments. I am hoping to avoid getting emotional and rude, so any help would be great! </p> <p>Ps : if you got to the end of my rambling you deserve a cookie or glass of wine or both. </p>