STFU Parents: Rules For Visiting Your Friend’s New Baby, According To Facebook

They say it takes a village to raise a child, but how does one define a “village” in 2013? Back in the day, a village meant the fifty families that lived closest to yours. But today, with the help of modern technology and social media, a “village” can stretch as far as a person’s Facebook feed, which is both a blessing and a curse. Messages that used to be communicated face-to-face, over the phone, or through a neighborhood newsletter are now distributed via a simple status update. And now that “village communication” is as easy as hitting Publish, some people, especially parents, have a tendency to take things a little too far.This can play out in the form of promotingĀ baby registry “requests,”Ā protestingĀ a lack of childcare at certain events, fundraising forĀ adoption or fertility treatments, or outlining exactly what to buy a childĀ for ChristmasĀ orĀ for his/her birthday. But the most irritating form of all is the list of “visitation rules” parents post on Facebook in order to prepare their “village” for meeting their new baby. This is a polarizing subject that’s beenĀ debatedĀ andĀ discussedĀ on STFU, Parents before, particularly because there are so many variables to consider. Personally, I’m of the belief that there’s no reason to post a list of “rules” at all, even if the rules are reasonable requests such as “wash your hands before holding the baby” and “call before coming over.” To me, these requests can be made in person, via email, or over the phone. How many of a person’s 500 Facebook friends are planning to come over to see the new baby, really?

However, proponents of Facebook visitation notes say they’re an easy way to communicate with annoying relatives who are likely to drop by with a bad cold, a lit cigarette dangling from their lips, and a lack of self-awareness that leads to overstaying their welcome. While that’s all well and good, I still can’t understand why it’s necessary to tell a group of adults what to do (or whatĀ notĀ to do) in a sweeping statement on social media. If you already know Crazy Aunt Rita is notorious for visiting new babies when she’s drunk, why not preemptively tell her — and only her — not to visit? I don’t see the benefit of posting a mass message about something that’s bound to only affect a handful of people, and possibly rub some of those people the wrong way. Plus, since when is it appropriate to crowd-source meals, dog walks, and chores from friends on Facebook? If you’ve just given birth and your friends want to help out, great. But if no one’s volunteered, wouldn’t it make more sense to reach out to close friends and family personally to request those things? Or does being a part of someone’s Facebook network automatically make you a member of their “village”?

Ultimately, a person’s attitude toward post-labor visitation updates seems to be based on personal experience. If you’ve had a baby and got frustrated with friends and family not doing as they “should” in some capacity, then you’re likely in favor of the visitation status update approach. If you haven’t, you probably think that approach is passive-aggressive and the message could be conveyed in another way. The irony, of course, being that some parents don’t want any visitors at all, while others are begging their friends to come do their laundry and give them a foot massage. In today’s world of overprotective parenting, who can keep track of all the rules, anyway? And, more importantly, who cares?

1. Positive Word Association

1. do our chores.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cindy is perfectly polite in her request for some help, but I can’t help feeling like she’s sitting in front a spreadsheet with a list of shit for others to do. It’s kind of like when a bride starts asking her bridesmaids to do everything for her, from running personal errands to coordinating the actual wedding. It gets to be too much. I’m also not really feeling the “compensation” tactics here. Gaze upon Cindy’s beautiful daughter and then go outside and tend to her garden? If I’m going to assist a friend with “household tasks” after she has a baby, it’ll just be because I want to help. Facebook won’t be a factor.

2. No Shot = No Baby

2. last vaccine.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I sympathize with Merritt and her premature twins, and I respect Betsy’s interests in keeping her baby away from disease, especially with whooping cough on the rise in certain places. BUT, there’s something slightly intrusive about making a medical request to dozens of friends and family via Facebook. If Betsy thinks she’s friends with someone who hasn’t been vaccinated against whooping cough, perhaps she should speak to that person directly, since most people *should* already be vaccinated. And if she won’t allow any vaccinated friends who haven’t had a recent flu shot hold her baby, I sincerely doubt that posting about it on Facebook is going to push them over the edge to get one.

3. Quick Rundown

3. the princess nugget.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

Erica wants her friends to leave her the hell alone as they eagerly anticipate “the princess nugget’s” arrival. But, how many people are really knocking down her door? Posts like this confuse me, because they’re usually either exaggerated or directed at a few specific people, all of whom Erica could have privately messaged. And yes, it’s annoying when people surprise visit, but it’s not the worst problem in the world to have. She’s essentially complaining that people are trying to get in touch with her because they’re excited for her baby. Soon she’ll be complaining that no one is calling or coming by, because that’s just what women like Erica do.

4. It’s All In The Attitude
4. wash hands, etc..jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ZING. Nice one, Chuck. Not that April’s status update doesn’t make perfect sense — it does! In fact, it makes so much sense, you’d think she could just ask her friends in person if they don’t mind washing their hands. No need to lace up the gloves about it on Facebook.

5. One Of “Those” ParentsĀ 

5. visitation rules.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brittany’s been a parent for a very short time, but she’s already got the sanctimommy bit down cold. Very intuitive. And YES she is one of “THOSE” parents and YES she DID roar like a momma bear! Lol. She’s not afraid to literally sniff around her friends and ask nosy questions about their health and whereabouts. Sometimes a momma bear has to go to extremes to protect her cubs! Especially when they’re so mind-blowingly perfect. If people don’t understand that instructional lists like Brittany’s are posted out of pure love, then that’s their problem.

Similar Posts