co-workers bringing their new babies for office viewing

[Bertha Venation]

We get at least one each month.

It is nice to see the kid.

I have yet to see a second or third (etc.) child shown off in this manner.

It. Is. Incredibly. Disruptive.

The worst are when we get emails: "Jane is here with her new baby, come to -X- floor and join the squeal-fest!" "Come see my new grandbaby!"

:eyes:

In sum: I believe photographs are sufficient. I know you're proud. You don't have to show me how proud. I'm very happy for you but please don't disrupt my workday in this manner.

Thoughts?

[fudge stripe cookays]

1. I'm with you, Bert.

I hate this crap.

Some of us are childfree by choice. People seem taken aback when I don't want to hear all the details of their pregnancy/childbirth/Caesarean/nursing difficulties.

In fact, I'd rather shoot myself in the head. By now, my coworkers have learned I do not join the goo-goo fests.

But I feel for ya, sister.
FSC

[LastKnight]

2. you are a very applied worker...

very professional. but wait, why are you on du? :o kidding.

i never really much understood the whole parade of children stuff either. dont care, dont want kids anytime soon.

-LK

[Bertha Venation]

3. Did I say I was at work?

;)

[LastKnight]

5. doh, there i go assuming again. lol nt

[Bertha Venation]

19. I do the same thing.

You notice yourself doing it more as you grow older. . . . I notice it CONSTANTLY now!

[Bunny]

4. Actually, I enjoy seeing a brand new baby.

I go, view, make the appropriate noises for a minute or two, then return to my office. Granted, it doesn't happen that often around here, as most of the womenfolk are past the childbearing years, but I do enjoy seeing the little critters!

[AspenRose]

6. "Cult of Baby"

I don't like it either...and I'm pregnant.

I find it embarrassing and have no intentions of acting like that. It's people like that who give rational people who aspire to be Parents, Not Breeders (as opposed to Breeders, not Parents) a bad name.

People have children every day. Not everyone likes having kids thrust in their face to coo over and worship. Nothing to see here, move along!

Edited to add: I also think doing stuff like that is insensitive to the (possibility of) women in the office who are either childless (as opposed to childfree by choice) and trying like the dickens to conceive with no luck, or who have had miscarriages.

If you want to see my kid, call me at home and come by the house. Work isn't appropriate.

[Samurai_Writer]

24. Also add...

Deseerted Rose said:
"Edited to add: I also think doing stuff like that is insensitive to the (possibility of) women in the office who are either childless (as opposed to childfree by choice) and trying like the dickens to conceive with no luck, or who have had miscarriages."

Also add women who have surrendered babies for adoption to that group. Most birthmothers, myself included, are very uncomfortable around newborns/infants because it brings back painful memories.

Double-add when women come off to show off their newly-adopted babies. I was forced to go to a baby shower for my boss who adopted a newborn several years ago. It was one of the most agonizing things I have ever gone through, to hear her and her friends practically cheering her on how she 'saved this baby' from certain poverty and abuse and gasp! being raised by a single parent, when, since it was a CLOSED ADOPTION, they had NO CLUE as to the birthmother's situation. And I had to sit there and keep my opinions to myself, as I had not 'come out' as a birthmother yet. (But they DID know I was a single parent to my 2nd born son.)

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

33. that's how I felt when we had our daughter

everyone wanted to know why I didn't bring her up to work. I wanted to say "um, I really don't want fifty strangers handing her around and handling her" but that would have been rude.

PLUS, I HATE being the center of attention and I saw how disruptive it was when other people did this. I really felt no desire to have people coo over my baby. I KNEW she was cute! LOL!

[Maddy McCall]

7. It doesn't bother me...in fact, I kind of like it.

I love meeting new members of our department's families. We have a really close-knit department, though, and celebrate each others' joyful times and mourn each others' losses.

Our department is very child-friendly. Kids visit offices with moms and dads, and they are usually welcomed at department cook-outs.

I love my department and 99% of my colleagues are great people.

[tigereye]

28. if you have a close knit group

I think it is very supportive. And I like work-places that are kid friendly. I was glad to take mine when he was little to my office and those who wanted to see, did. And I love seeing babies. Especially since mine is older now and I don't have one crying all night. You can ogle them and ooh and ahh and then hand them back. And they do smell really good, most of the time. There is nothing like that new baby smell.

[GOPisEvil]

8. I've been here a little over 4 years...

...in that time ONE WOMAN has had three kids. :o

I don't even want to get started on the fact that the same woman sang overtly religious Christmas music one year, too. This is a state office building, fer cripes sake!

But, uh, to answer the original question, I really don't give a crap, but if the person is a friend of mine, I'll make an appearance and coo appropriately. :D

[Bunny]

16. Wow. Three kids in four years. Holy crap!

I could not imagine, but then my mom had 7 kids in 13 years. That probably explains a lot about my goofy family. ;)

[underpants]

9. I run up to them and lick them

no babies in the office since then, works everywhere I have worked. :bounce:

[AspenRose]

11. You sick bastard....

}(

COOTIES!

*not letting Underpants near my kid*

[Beware the Beast Man]

10. Sorry, but adorable human larvae trumps all.

Screw work if there's a cute baby on the premises. I'm a big old softie that way...and lazy.

[nini]

12. I HATE THAT!!!!

Especially when they're screaming their lungs out.

[RebelOne]

20. Yep, same here. I'd much rather see a cute puppy.

[fudge stripe cookays]

41. So true!!

I was watching one episode of K9 to 5 on Animal Planet a couple weeks ago, and there was this factory in North Carolina-- they order hard to find china patterns, do matching of pieces--keep certain brands on hand, that sort of thing.

Everyon there is welcome to bring their pets to the office. In fact, they celebrate their pets and let them play together during the day! Now THAT'S somewhere I'd love to work!

Now THEN I'd be an attention hound for my baby!


FSC

[redqueen]

13. Babies rule!

I love having an excuse to leave my millstone and coo over an adorable infant. :)

[calico1]

14. That happens around here too.

But at least its better than the people who being rolls of pictures of the baby or kids that you just have to see. Or the ones who go to Disney World or wherever and bring 10 rolls of film to the office that they HAVE to show you! Ugh! Did you ever see the episode of Seinfeld where they go to stay a weekend at the home of some friends who just had a new baby and its really ugly? Elaine and Jerry do their best to say the kid is cute and Kramer, being honest as always says "she looks like Lyndon Johnson!" Hehehe. That was a funny one.

[prolesunited]

15. Delete the e-mails and ignore the visit

Some people enjoy it and others don't. To each their own.

I think it humanizes the workplace. We're not automatons. I'm all for babies, birthday cakes and laughter in the office, even a hug if someone has lost a loved one. After all, you probably spend more time with your fellow employees than you do with your own family.

I don't see it as a the "cult of baby." Do you get equally annoyed if someone brings in a trophy, shares an accomplishment or gushes about a new love? Why begrudge someone sharing their joy — no matter where it comes from?

Personally, I think work disrupts our lives.

[SarahB]

22. I agree.

Besides, the one kid I had during a time I was working, I got constantly asked by other people I worked with, "When are you going to bring in the baby for us to see?" so it's not always just someone showing off. I wouldn't have really thought about it other than pictures, but I didn't mind either.
It's about sharing your joy, that's all. :)

[tigereye]

29. well said Proles

[mosin]

17. You clearly hate babies!

Just kidding. :)

I certainly showed off my miniature progeny at my place of employment when they were born -- both of them -- and I'm delighted to see my co-workers' little darlings. I'm not that attached to my work that I can't spare 5 minutes to smile at a baby.

[NC_Nurse]

18. Depends on my mood and

the type of workplace. When people bring kids to the hospital, I'm not impressed. Too many bugs to be exposed to, IMO. Do the kid a favor and leave 'em at home.
My kids are grown pretty much, so I enjoy seeing a baby once in a while...but overall I'm sort of over it. Maybe I'll be more interested again when/if I have grandkids.

:boring:

[Bertha Venation]

21. Lots of varied responses. Great! Prolesunited gets the prize for

making me think the most -- last line in her post. Check it, everyone.

[prolesunited]

37. Thanks!

I've gained a new perspective on things from so many people since I've been here. It's nice to know something I said made someone else think. That's what's so great about having such a big tent.

[Beaverhausen]

23. one co-worker has the cutest 3 year old I have ever seen

so I don't really mind when Chloe comes to visit. She is the absolute cutest!!!

But if you have visits too often I'm sure it gets annoying.

[Ducks In A Row]

25. I agree

of course if it meant I actually had a job, at this point I'd be willing to be disrupted, as long as I was getting some kind of paycheck.

:)

[Pithlet]

26. I liked it when people did that, but

I never did that with either of my babies, partly because I quit work when I had the first one, and partly for the reasons others in this thread have mentioned. I think if you work with a small group where everyone knows everyone else very well, it's probably okay, but not in a large, cubicle environment kind of workplace.

[exJW]

27. Unless your office is directly involved in saving lives/the world

I'd say you can use the break in your day. ;-)

[exJW]

31. Personally, I think work disrupts our lives.

I love that.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

30. I genuinely care about the lives of my employees and colleagues

and am glad when they share children, grandchildren and YES pets. We treat our office as family which makes it incredibly difficult when people are laid off but more often than not we call around to help them find work.
When women and men have an addition to their family they often bring their children in. We have a lounge for those days when child care is impossible and the kids can watch TV or color so mom doesn't have to call in sick or use a vacation day simply due to hardship (none of the employees has ever abused this and use it solely as a last resort.)

Heck...I've brought my dog to the office at least three times this year...just last week in fact...he was doint tricks in my boss's office while all the suite looked on...there was no obligation for anyone to come over and see...that little bit of disruption pays off with the teamwork it engenders when you are covering for someone you genuinely care for.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

32. So

can you just not go down to x floor and squeal over the baby?

I am a mom myself and I don't engage in squeal-fests. In fact, I feel no desire to hold the baby, but usually people shove them at me anyway (the assumption: moms ALWAYS want to hold babies....sigh).

But I have worked in a cube farm where this happened a lot and I just got used to "needing to go to the facilities" or taking a brisk, refreshing walk around the building (outside).

Barring that, does your boss mind them or do they annoy him/her too?

[Book Lover]

34. I used to feel the same way until...

I started working here in California, where it appears that it's just fine to bring in your dog/cat/hamster/boa constrictor any day of the week. Not that I've yet brought in my baby to show off, but if I have to put up with effing animals in the workplace, people can put up with my baby.

My personal rules for bringing in baby (the below assumes I have the all-clear from my supervisor and the department head):

A) It must be a half-day, preferably Friday.
B) The baby must wake up in a good mood.
C) Stuff baby full of food beforehand, so there's no wailing later.
D) Bring more than enough diapers, food, clothing, toys.
E) Keep away from coworkers who you know don't care for babies. How do you know this? ASK THEM BEFORE YOU BRING THE BABY IN. This is not negotiable.

[flamingyouth]

35. I love kids as much as the next single, childless person

What bugs me is when people bring their kids to work, to meetings, etc., and disrupt the entire thing so we can coo over the kid. I am a godmother to four children, and I love and spoil them dearly. But the parents have never assumed that they should bring their kids to my place of business and bother me when they know I'm busy trying to work. And I would never do the same thing, if I ever had kids of my own. </rant>

[sbj405]

36. My coworker brings his baby and wife in

for several hours at a time. She's a stay at home mom who appears to be very bored and comes in just to hang out even while the little one is having a squealfest.

[cally]

38. Just ignore if it bothers you

I brought my firstborn into work because I went into premature labor and just disappeared. I went in to tell folks I was OK. My second I never went into work with. I don't think most are into the 'cult of the baby' but more are trying to share their life. My life had changed, many of my workmates were friends, we were discussing the projects I had abandoned, and I wanted my friends to see my baby.

[LWolf]

39. I'm the one on the other side of the room.

I'll smile politely and say something pleasant if the new mom makes eye contact with me, but that's it. I don't do babies.

Except for mine. I adored my own, and I adore my grandson.

I like everybody else's kids when they can walk, talk, feed, clean, dress, and relieve themselves.

[RFKHumphreyObama]

40. Couldn't have said it better myself

<I like everybody else's kids when they can walk, talk, feed, clean, dress, and relieve themselves>

Me too