Annoyed Aunt Speaks Out..

Ok, seriously people, I know babies are cute but if you see one in line at the grocery store, walking through the mall or where ever you may be, do not I repeat DO NOT ask to hold a strangers baby. It is fine to make some contact; you can smile, wave, even compliment the child but please no lingering. One you have no idea what you are keeping the parent from getting done and they DO NOT KNOW YOU. It’s weird and a little too much. I have been more irritated with people the past couple of days in a way I had never been before. When I am holding my nephew and someone says he’s cute…. Fine, I don’t know you but I will smile politely and say thank you (Because, he is the most adorable thing) But on more than one occasion this week people have tried to get him to hold their finger, poke at him, and get very close to his face. I know that I am in North Carolina and in a town of only old people, but all I can think is, I don’t know where your hands have been so keep your dirty paws away from my nephew, I don’t know if you are a pedophile so don’t touch him or I may break your hand, and yeah he has pneumonia…. Get any closer and he coughs on you… you deserve it! I know this is terrible but think about this… he is tired and ready for a nap and we just got him calmed down and you just got him all riled up…. There goes naptime. Now if you haven’t been around a baby who misses a nap, you should try it. The whole day is full of fussy fits and sad tired eyes. I know you may think well if a baby is tired they will sleep. NOT TRUE! Some babies fight sleep and the more tired they are the harder it is to get them to sleep. He also may have the dirtiest diaper in the world or it’s time for a bottle…. There was just enough time to make it to the bathroom to either change him or feed him before he started wailing… now you added 5 minutes maybe 10 if your really annoying and he starts screaming before we get there…. Also don’t offer parental advice. This works better or you should do this. When I hear something like that I have one question… Have you spent 24 hours with this child? Well believe me you haven’t the parents know what works for that child. What worked for yours may not work for theirs. If they want your opinion they will ask for it. They make websites and blogs where moms and dad’s can read tips & tricks for raising a baby. If you have something to tell parents by all means join the websites or start a blog. This experience of spending allllllll day for a couple of days with my sister, brother-in-law and nephew has been an eye opening experience. I asked my sister if this happens a lot and she laughed and said all the time. Now, it bothers her just as much as it bothers me, so please don’t do it!