What great advice! Thankfully I lived so far away from family when my daughter was born that we only got descended on twice...one of those times was awful, the other lot at least tried to help a bit...but reading this, I count myself very lucky. However, my niece-in-law just had her first baby a few weeks ago and it sounds like they've had non-stop visitations since she was born and all over Christmas...and she's AuDHD...so I can only imagine how much she longs to barricade the door. We are politely staying away until they are ready, whenever that is!
Thank you for sharing such an honest and heartfelt reflection on your journey into fatherhood once again. Last year, I rejoined Team No Sleep. This was our third child. We thought we knew what we were doing, but it doesn't matter how much you mentally prepare for the idea of no sleep; NOTHING prepares you for the reality. It's a shock every time.
Sharing your story helps others (especially me) feel less alone in their struggles and provides practical insights on navigating these often overwhelming early weeks of parenthood. I particularly appreciate your honesty about the emotional toll that unsolicited visits and lack of empathy can take on new parents. Your story serves as a valuable reminder that every family’s needs are unique, and it’s perfectly okay to prioritise your own well-being and that of your children over societal expectations or familial pressures. How you’ve turned these challenging experiences into lessons for future interactions, pledging to advocate for your daughters and their future children, is touching and inspiring. This time round, we had a "we'll visit you policy", so then we would have the freedom to turn up and leave when we wanted to. This held the boundary really well.
I'd love to do a guest/cross-post with you about teething. Everyone focuses on the Team No Sleep at the beginning. But everyone forgets the pain of teething where nothing after the dose of Calpol can console them. Let me know what you think.
What great advice! Thankfully I lived so far away from family when my daughter was born that we only got descended on twice...one of those times was awful, the other lot at least tried to help a bit...but reading this, I count myself very lucky. However, my niece-in-law just had her first baby a few weeks ago and it sounds like they've had non-stop visitations since she was born and all over Christmas...and she's AuDHD...so I can only imagine how much she longs to barricade the door. We are politely staying away until they are ready, whenever that is!
Oh wow I really feel for her - having all that happen over Christmas must be so overwhelming!
Thank you for sharing such an honest and heartfelt reflection on your journey into fatherhood once again. Last year, I rejoined Team No Sleep. This was our third child. We thought we knew what we were doing, but it doesn't matter how much you mentally prepare for the idea of no sleep; NOTHING prepares you for the reality. It's a shock every time.
Sharing your story helps others (especially me) feel less alone in their struggles and provides practical insights on navigating these often overwhelming early weeks of parenthood. I particularly appreciate your honesty about the emotional toll that unsolicited visits and lack of empathy can take on new parents. Your story serves as a valuable reminder that every family’s needs are unique, and it’s perfectly okay to prioritise your own well-being and that of your children over societal expectations or familial pressures. How you’ve turned these challenging experiences into lessons for future interactions, pledging to advocate for your daughters and their future children, is touching and inspiring. This time round, we had a "we'll visit you policy", so then we would have the freedom to turn up and leave when we wanted to. This held the boundary really well.
I'd love to do a guest/cross-post with you about teething. Everyone focuses on the Team No Sleep at the beginning. But everyone forgets the pain of teething where nothing after the dose of Calpol can console them. Let me know what you think.