Parenting advice posts are a rarity here. There was one in 2015, another in 2017 plus one on childhood house rules that make sense now that didn't back then. There's nothing like having a teenager with the ability to read and comment to make you wary about drawing attention to your parenting.
One of the ladies at church is expecting and this got me thinking about how to help support her and her family when baby arrived. So maybe less of a parenting advice post and more suggestions for acts of kindness for a specific audience ... New parents.
A Listening Ear.
Welcoming a baby into a house - whether it's your first, second, third or however many - is a big deal. It's a bit like putting your life into a blender. Without the lid. Fun but messy. A friend who listens to your worries without judging, only offers advice when asked, knows when a hug is needed, puts the kettle on to make the tea and washes up afterwards is priceless.
A Helping Hand.
The self cleaning house is yet to be invented. Whilst you can do the shopping on the Internet, it doesn't put itself away or turn itself into meals. Walking the dog, taking the older child(ren) out for the afternoon, doing the garden, getting the shopping, giving the house a clean or putting a wash on ... Only a few hours of your time enables the new parents have a sleep, go for a walk, nurse or flop in front of the TV.
Food.
At our previous church, members of the congregation cooked and dropped meals round to new parents every night for a week. All we had to do was reheat them and return the dishes afterwards. Amazing!
Stuff.
Parents, particularly new ones, are pressured to buy All The Things. As so much depends on baby, one family's essential is another's waste of money. The Tubblet loved her bouncy chair but never touched the walker. She shuffled along on her bottom until she didn't. If you've still got baby stuff stored in your attic and won't need it for a while, consider lending to a friend. It might be just the thing and it'll save them some money.
Gifts.
Something that could only come from you. A playlist, some flowers, a book or, if all else fails, you can never have too many muslins. When baby is tiny they're suitable for everything from mopping up burp to something to pop over the pram if baby is having a nap. When baby is bigger, they become Best Bits and are always there to cuddle. I'm pretty sure we've still got some lurking around at the bottom of the airing cupboard ...
What gifts do you recommend for new parents?
Sharing with all these great Linkys
I have a few new babies on the scene over the past month and I really struggled with gifts - both don't live in my town and all I wanted to do was drop a lasagne on their doorstep. I went with clothes in the end, as who can resist a cute new baby outfit (especially when they are for boys - I have all girls!)
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing with #coolmumclub, great advice
That's the hardest ... When you want to help because you know it's needed, but you're too far away! Boys baby clothes are so cute :)
DeleteDefinitely meals and time! I had family members bring us dinner those first few weeks at home with a new baby and it was wonderful... though I kind of wished they had hung around to hold the baby while I ate. No sooner had they left than the baby was crying and by the time I fed and changed him the meal was pretty cold.
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DeleteI know what you mean. You kind of get used to cold food and tea when you're a parent :)
DeleteLending baby junk is so nice! Babies can be so particular about swings, chairs and walkers which all seem to be the same price as a grocery trip. Getting to test things out for free and with the possibility of handing it back or to someone else so it doesn't take up space in your home is a wonderful gift! Helping hands, food, and something personal that mom and dad can appreciate are wonderful! This is a great list!
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Thank you :)
DeleteGreat list you have here. Diapers! You can never get enough of diapers. And yes, meals!
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True! I didn't write nappies as there are so many different types.
DeleteAhh! Fab post! I think any new mother would be grateful of a home cooked meal every evening that she didn't cook herself. #PoCoLo
ReplyDeleteSo true :) We were so grateful
DeleteYes to all these suggestions, I definitely would give a parent a years supply of batteries for when the child is a toddler with all the toys that come with noise haha X #fabfridaypost #pocolo
ReplyDeleteNoooooo!!!!!!!!!! Actually yes. And sharp scissors so you can open the toys in the first place!
DeleteGreat suggestions. I have to say that ready cooked meals or a bit of help with cleaning would have been the absolute best gifts when my babies were little (or even now!). A break and some company would be far better for me than 'stuff' any day. Thanks for sharing these with #FabFridayPost
ReplyDeleteA mate paid for a cleaner for the first month and we were so grateful. :)
DeleteMeals were such a good one for us - we'd bulk cooked a load and popped them in the freezer, but we still got through them really quickly. And paying for a cleaner would have been absolutely amazing - I feel awkward when people (particularly inlaws) start cleaning the house. They never clean in the same way you would, but you can't say anything because of the awkwardness! And then they do do things that you wouldn't (like, for me, ironing), and then you take it as a slight ("You don't iron my son's shirts, what kind of a wife are you?") Thanks for joining us at #SharingtheBlogLove
ReplyDeleteI don't iron Rev T's shirts either! He won't let me because I'm dreadful at ironing and mine wasn't good enough. I didn't even do it badly deliberately!
DeleteMeals would have been amazing for me. My husband can't cook and it was tough having to cook dinner every night for us. Especially second time when I had a toddler to cook for too. Thank you for joining us at #SharingtheBlogLove
ReplyDeleteThank you for hosting each week :)
DeleteThis is a good list. I'm a Auntie for the 3rd time a few months ago and if we were closer to each other I'd offer them some helping hand within a heartbeat.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for linking up with us on #FabFridayPost
Congratulations! That's the only thing I didn't really cover in the list, how to help when you're further away. :( Maybe next time ...
DeleteSome great ideas there Mrs T and proof that it really doesn't have to be about things, even if it is about stuff. Thanks for sharing with #PoCoLo
ReplyDeleteTrue :) It's the intangibles like help, friendship and hugs etc that really counted for us :)
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