I was having lunch with my mom today and she says to me "I want to talk to you about something but don't take it the wrong way. " That's never a good way to start a conversation. Apparently my Dad was visiting with my Gmom and Uncle the other night and my uncle commented how he hadn't heard from me since my aunt dropped off a bunch of food to us 2 weeks ago and that he wants to see the baby. Now I thoroughly thanked my aunt when she stopped and we had a nice visit. We are certainly grateful for this and any gifts anyone has given us but calling everyone to thank them or chat hasn't really been a top priority while learning to take care of my newborn. My mom commented that she hasn't heard any other grumblings yet but people like to be acknowledged when they give you a gift..........This made me feel like a big a-hole and i started to cry in my exhausted, emotional state. Isn't this the point of thank you cards? I understand that it's a great idea to call people but that has been the furthest thing from my mind! I feel like people would understand that. I'm lucky if I shower daily or eat a real meal at this point. And the last time I checked people don't need a personal invitation to come visit the baby. Am I crazy for feeling this way? LO is only 3 weeks old - cut me a break!
-
I'm really sorry you're feeling this way
thank you cards and calls were the last thing on my mind when I had a newborn!!
-
Why would you need to call to thank them if you were able to visit with her when she dropped the food off? No way I would make time to do that at this point. He's crazy, not you.
-
You sent a thank you card? Um- that is MORE than enough!
-
Yeah--they're nuts here. That's insane. I would never expect that from a new parent!
-
That seems ridiculous to expect from a mom with a newborn! I wouldn't even think to send a thank you note for food and I wouldn't expect one if I brought someone a meal. I think your only job at the moment is to focus on staying alive and keeping your baby alive!
-
Awe don't feel bad! We got an outpouring of gifts after our LO was born (clothes, toys, etc.) I said thank you if they called or stopped by but I didn't write a single thank you card (which I am usually religious about). I was so tired and stressed carrying for a newborn I didn't care if people thought I was rude. So just focus on your little baby and the other people can forget about it!
-
I think the issue is with their expectations, not with how you have thanked them. DW and I were frazzled for the first month of the baby (and, at 4 months, are still!), and it's only because she's so diligent that we got out any thank-you cards at all. Anything more than that is simply expecting too much.
-
I am huge on thank yous and thank you cards but when LO was born I seriously lacked in this area. Always a verbal thank you but other than that I sucked
don't stress, you are a busy new momma!
-
I still haven't written thank you notes since LO was born. DH keeps getting heat for it from his mom for one from a family member.
-
@Phillybaby2013: For new moms, the 2 week rule is extended. SO NOT COOL. I gave myself 2 months to get them all out.
My grandma asked about a gift that we never sent a card for (I ALWAYS send out cards) and it turns out we never got the gift! So I understand why people ask. But in that case she knew you got it and were grateful. That's not fair to you as a new mom!
-
I still have people's casserole dishes in my house & my son is 4.5m old. I don't even have time to return them let alone anything else. Ahhh....exhaustion at its finest. People are so thoughtless sometimes.
-
Thanks everyone, this definitely made me feel better. My mom can be an etiquette nazi when it comes to stuff like this so I'm not surprised by what she said but I thought she would have been more understanding. Oh well. People will get over it.
thank you cards and calls were the last thing on my mind when I had a newborn!!
- Google Plus
- Stumbleupon
- Twitter
- Facebook
- Pinterest
- Favorite0
12 comments