Lots of visitors?

Have you ever noticed that when you set out to buy a new car, suddenly everyone is an expert? People start to take on a Jeremy Clarkson persona and dish out the latest thinking on next generation diesel engines, climate control and sports suspension. Unfortunately pregnancy has the same unexplainable effect on people. Family, friends and perfect strangers feel compelled to discuss with you the latest birthing fads and pain relief techniques.

For months I struggled against a constant barrage of advice about my forthcoming child. Occasionally, however there were little glimpses of wisdom that actually helped me through the momentous life changing event that was about to occur. One of these pieces of advice had to do with the vast arrays of people that feel compelled to visit you en masse the instant you return home from the hospital. These people generally mean well and want to share in the joy of the new baby. However in the jubilation of the event they tended to overlook how stunningly tired my wife, baby and I were.

So here is a simple solution to deal with all those visitors. You give them jobs. When your partner and new baby get home the last thing that they and you will want to have to face is washing up, cooking, ironing, cleaning and the million other things that help a home run smoothly. This is where your visitors come in. If they want to see the baby, they come to the house to work. Yes I appreciate that this seems a touch heartless, but please trust me on this one, it will work wonderfully for all involved if you follow these simple steps.

1. As far in advance as possible warn your potential visitors that they will be given jobs to do.
2. Make a list of all the jobs that need doing
3. Stick to your guns, no jobs, no visits
4. Enjoy the first few days with your new baby, they are wonderful and irreplaceable