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"I love (love, love, love!) all of the visitors Emmett and I have had over the past 13 days. But some visits have definitely been easier than others.  I&amp;#039;m know my never-been-a-mom friends have no idea how tired I am\u2014they think I just sit around and stare at a baby all day, after all. And I think some of my mommy friends have forgotten how overwhelmed they were in the first few weeks. Suffice to say, I am tired and overwhelmed. So here are some guidelines for anyone visiting me\u2014or any new mom. 1. Don&amp;#039;t bring a gift! Maybe people just like to shop for bite-size presents, but no one has walked through our door without a gift so far! I appreciate the gesture, but please don&amp;#039;t bring a gift because you think I&amp;#039;m expecting one. 2. Food is great\u2014but opt for non-perishables. My friends know that when I&amp;#039;m busy, home-cooked meals are the first thing to go out the window. They&amp;#039;ve kept our refrigerator stocked \u2026 to the point where a lot of food is being wasted. And I feel terrible! My favorite &amp;quot;food&amp;quot; gifts so far: Amy&amp;#039;s organic frozen burritos and boxes of Annie&amp;#039;s mac and cheese. 3. Leave sooner rather than later. I&amp;#039;m pretty much maxed out after a three-hour visit. I&amp;#039;ve tried mentioning how tired I am and tapering down the conversation, but some people just don&amp;#039;t take the hint. Don&amp;#039;t wait for a new mom to show you the door. She may be too timid to! (I am!) Did you welcome visitors during your baby&amp;#039;s first weeks? Or did you need some time to focus on your family? "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.womansday.com/relationships/family-friends/a44396/visiting-a-new-mom-read-this-2634/>