23 Ways Boomer Parents Missed The Mark, And How Millennials Are Doing Things Differently

11.

“When I was expecting my first, we were adamant that we didn’t want anyone at the hospital while I was in labor. To prevent it, we didn’t plan on telling anyone I was in labor until after the baby was born. Most of our family was understanding, but my boomer mother tried to go behind my back and get my husband to tell her anyway. After the baby came and I was struggling hard around two weeks postpartum, my mom said she’d come over and help. I was so relieved. She showed up sick. There’s no time like parenthood to force you to grow a spine and set some boundaries. It’s tough, though.”

—u/Gloomy_Tie_1997

“My father-in-law had an active shingles outbreak when my child was born, and he was offended I made him wait a couple of weeks to get near the baby.”

—u/debalbuena

“My mom showed up on my birthday during a COVID wave when I was eight months pregnant. When I went to hug her, she said, ‘Oh, you don’t want to hug me, I have a bad cold.’ So you’re telling me there wasn’t one moment she thought to mention this,  or, god forbid, ask if it was still OK to come over?”

—[deleted]