Couple’s list of demands for visiting their newborn goes viral
A couple have been slammed online for their list of demands for any family or friends wanting to visit their newborn child.
The list asks guests to do chores around the house, buy them groceries, purchase gifts and not wear deodorant or perfume, along with many more.
The demanding mother took to Reddit to ask if she was in the wrong for refusing to bend the rules for her sister-in-law, who, as a student, couldn’t afford to pay for gifts or groceries, so instead offered to do more chores.
The list of rules from the picky parents begin with reasonable requirements for meeting a newborn, such as being up to date with all vaccinations, no smoking, staying away if the visitor feels sick, and not picking up the baby without the parents’ consent.
However, the list of demands soon becomes outlandish, with the parents requiring that guests arrange a visiting time and date a week in advance, only visit for one hour a maximum two times a week and not take selfies or dish out advice.
“If you visit the first time you will be expected to give mom (me) a gift card and a gift for baby from our approved list,” one of the rules states.
“Before you ever come no matter how many times you will be given a list of either food or groceries to bring with you AND a chore for a list of your choosing,” said another.
The 34-year-old mother said the list was intended to keep visits to a minimum and prevent friends and family complaining about “favouritism” over the new child.
However, when the new father’s sister wanted to pay a visit, things in the family descended into chaos.
“My sister-in-law who studies in a different part of the country and is rarely home asked to visit last week before she had to go back to school,” the mum wrote.
“So we set up a date with a link to our gift list then sent her the takeout we’d like including the chores she can choose from.”
The new aunty responded with the dire state of her finances, and offered to do extra chores instead of buying things, but the parents refused.
“Me and my husband talked about it and came to the decision that if we bent the rules for one person, everyone would want the same treatment,” the woman wrote.
“We told her no, that we were very clear about our rules and maybe next time she could visit.”
Devastated by her sister-in-law’s response, the woman even offered to clean the whole house for a chance to meet her new nephew, but the parents wouldn’t budge on their rules.
“She left this morning and we got multiple texts from my in-laws belittling us for using our child as a cash grab,” the mum said.
“My husband simply replied it was our rules and no one deserves special treatment, then told his family they were on a time-out and blocked them.”
The post on the social media site explaining the story has since gone viral, with comments slamming the new parents for their “money grabbing” tactics.
“Your rules went from 0 to 60. Like smoking and vaccines, yeah. But gift cards and chores? The entitlement is strong with this one,” one user commented.
“Gift item and food? You had a baby, you can’t cook for yourself? I mean I understand friends VOLUNTEERING to bring a meal, but to demand food, gifts and a chore? Try having a toddler and a newborn, working full time. You both sound insufferable,” another person said.
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