Your flashlight broke? No Chem Lights in your daily carry bag.......
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It must be either a cultural or familial tradition thing.
We were "around" for the birth of both of our grandkids. In one case, at my wife's hospital here in Parker. In the other, we were visiting the kids that live in WA over the holidays and around the due date with the hope we would be in town when he came.
In both cases, we asked them what they wanted. Answer, "Privacy."
Great, let us know if/when you need us or are ready for visitors.
I realize there's two sides to this, often very polar, but I certainly supported their decision and frankly had no reason to go hang out at the hospital in either case. We were minutes away from one, and less than an hour from the other when the time came. One of the other grandmas packed her own bag and was bound and determined to spend the night at the hospital with my son and DIL Only after repeated and stern demands by DIL for her to stay home, did she agree to keep her distance until they were ready to take visitors.
On the other hand, there were friend's of the kids telling them on FB they needed a week or more of alone time, even without the grandparents getting to visit the newborn. Granted, the kiddo isn't going to know what's what from one or two brief encounters, but it's a proud and emotional experience grandparents cherish. I don't believe they realized we were in town, and staying with the kids... We limited our time, and gave them their space. Of course, we also knew we would still be there for a few days after they were discharged. [Coffee] My wife's real goal was to be there to help and support DIL and baby at home for the first few days and that was achieved.
My wife is a L&D nurse so babies in general are pretty run of the mil for her, though she is the proudest grandma I know. For what it's worth, in 1984, my pregnant wife was staying with my parents the last few weeks I was finishing an AIT and clearing post for my permanent duty station. I was on the road traveling back to my hometown, wife, son, and family, and the expected birth of my second. I arrived in town and called the house, only to find out I had missed the big event. On the upside, my mother acted as my proxy in the delivery room and was thrilled with the privilege. I was disappointed that I wasn't there, but that's life.
I recently stopped carrying a flashlight.
The most recently development is that a nurse came in to check on the water that broke. She wasn't sure if it was really the water that broke, so they got another nurse. I think there was a test strip involved where you stick it in the water and it changes a color. They discussed the color a bit, then the second nurse licked the test strip and said, "Yeah, her water broke." then without any pause or break in her stride she went on to talk about how there is a unique smell and other properties they look for. My wife came out and was freaking out about it and made the little girls tell me the story because she didn't think I'd believe her, but they saw it as well.
https://i.imgflip.com/1mw9oi.jpgvia Imgflip Meme Generator
brutal, I have similar feelings. This isn't the first baby in the family, and I don't understand why we need to be here either. Big sis wants to be there for little sis. They have a pretty small family. I'm just hanging out in the lobby, dad is in there, everyone else is girls (mom, sister, girl kids). Sitting around on the internet is what I'd be doing anyway, so it doesn't matter that it's at a hospital. Well, except we were supposed to be up in the mountains at some cabin this weekend.
Close family, everyone is glad we're here. That's the way it is.
Good thing the nurse didn't go into volcanology:
http://i.imgur.com/AsgLdfZ.jpg
That's funny.
Congrats, Brutal.
Howdy everyone.