Before stepping into the world of parenthood, you might have found yourself rolling your eyes at friends who bailed on plans with excuses like, “The babysitter canceled,” or coworkers who couldn’t contribute to a work potluck because their baby kept them up all night. Now that you have your own little one, you understand that sitters do indeed flake out, and a sleepless night can justify skipping out on certain commitments. The sheer exhaustion of parenting sometimes leads us to blame our baby for pulling us away from social activities. Here are seven scenarios where I’ve conveniently used my baby as an excuse to bow out.
1. Brunch Plans
While many people revel in brunch, I’m not one of them. I prefer to savor multiple meals throughout the day rather than waiting in lengthy lines at hip eateries. When I discovered that brunch aligned perfectly with my son’s morning nap, I was genuinely thrilled. Friends may not accept “I’m just not interested” as a valid excuse, but no one can argue against a baby’s nap schedule. So, brunch plans? Count me out!
2. Sleepover Bachelorette Parties
Bachelorette parties can be a riot—at least for the first few hours. The fun usually diminishes once the group crams into a cab to share a hotel room, reminiscent of middle school sleepovers (which is often less fun than it sounds). Since my son nursed for 16 months, I couldn’t afford to miss an evening and a morning. This made it a breeze for me to call an Uber and retreat to the comfort of my own bed.
3. Extended Family Visits
A new baby often brings out the distant relatives, and while these visits can be heartwarming, they sometimes drag on longer than expected. My son was quite the finicky napper, and I’ll admit I used his unpredictable napping habits to justify leaving gatherings early more than once. On occasions when I couldn’t escape, I simply claimed that my baby needed me nearby for his nap, giving me the perfect excuse to sneak off for a quick snooze myself.
4. Maintaining a Pristine Home
I wish I had taken a moment to appreciate how clean my house was before heading to the hospital because it has never returned to that state. Thankfully, no one expects a spotless home after a baby arrives! Since my son’s birth, whenever guests notice the dishes piling up in the sink or laundry scattered everywhere, I simply shrug, point to the baby, and move on.
5. Destination Weddings
Like bachelorette parties, destination weddings can be fun yet also a significant financial and time investment. While my baby is a relatively good traveler, he has had his moments of struggle on planes. This has been my reason for skipping out on those extravagant plans, and I’ve been open about it, letting people know that traveling with a baby just complicates things.
6. Endless Phone Conversations
We’ve all found ourselves stuck on a call with that advice-giving aunt or a nephew eager to showcase his tuba recital. Pre-baby, I would’ve endured these conversations patiently. Now, however, I occasionally use my little one as an excuse to get off the phone, especially when he’s attempting to eat the dog’s food. Sometimes, you just have to prioritize!
7. Plans I’d Rather Skip
I usually try to be honest about my commitments, but there are instances when I’ve agreed to something well in advance, only to dread it as the date approaches. Canceling last minute is generally frowned upon, but a timely call a few days ahead to explain that a sitter fell through? That’s perfectly acceptable, right? After all, sometimes the allure of sweatpants, pizza, and a Netflix binge with my partner is just too tempting to resist.
Babies, while undeniably adorable and cuddly, can often seem a bit impractical. But now, they serve as the perfect excuse to sidestep various activities. Use this power wisely!
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In summary, embracing parenthood can provide you with unexpected benefits, including the ability to gracefully decline certain social obligations. Your little one can be your best ally in navigating this new chapter of life.
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