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TOPIC: Nesting Instinct: Bane of My Existence.
 

TheDadAbides
Nesting Instinct: Bane of My Existence.
1 Year, 10 Months ago
Ok,a couple of you my have noticed that I joined this site, made few posts and then promptly dropped off the face of the earth.
The reason is my wife's "nesting instinct" has arrived with a resounding thud. I came home from work and there was a list of 10 projects that had to be completed be for our child arrived. Don't get me wrong, I fully expected to do some heavy lifting in preparation for the baby. I've painted two rooms and moved out the guest room furniture and moved in nursery furniture and did it all with a smile on my face. I even reorganized the basement and garage (I'm on a first name basis with the Goodwill people now).But the list has things like "replant landscaping" and "touch up exterior paint." I'm not sure the baby cares all that much about the mulching.
Granted, some of this stuff really needs to get done. Besides, I know it's going happen whether I like it or not, I might as well be on board and not be the bad guy right? Does anyone else have any good stories/coping mechanisms for dealing with this? I want to hear 'em.
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GuggaurlMus
Hello All I am New
1 Year, 10 Months ago
empty"/nnHeya People Im New, I have been looking around this board for about a few days as a guest. I found it useful and it has helped out allot. I hope to hang around for some time and give something back.

Thank You.
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bobjr79
Re:Nesting Instinct: Bane of My Existence.
1 Year, 10 Months ago
Well, The only way to cope with it is take the WSW approach. WHATEVER SHE WANTS. That and have a few beers whilst your completing that Honey Do list.

I had to scrape down the texture ceiling in the baby's room. Then after I sanded it smooth as our baby to be's bottom I painted the room not once, not twice but three times before she we found the right color, "Sweet Baby Boy" by Glidden. Then I painted ever so subtle stripes of flat and high gloss finishes of said color along the bottom half of the room. "We" also cleaned out the garage and put up chair rail and wall frames in the dining room. I'm sure there's more but I can't remember right now... don't over do it with the beers.

Believe me El Daderino, I feel your pain.
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ben
Re:Nesting Instinct: Bane of My Existence.
1 Year, 10 Months ago
I have a friend who's wife went into labor within 12 hours of the nesting beginning. Imagine having her screaming at you during the pushing about all the projects you haven't gotten done in less than a day of being on the list!

No nesting here. I'm blessed!
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Cook
Re:Nesting Instinct: Bane of My Existence.
1 Year, 10 Months ago
It sounds like you have the righ approach, the one that includes a smile on your face.

My wife was on bedrest for 11 weeks so that left her sitting around the house all day looking at what needed to be done. It reached the point that I was home sick with the flu, and still assembled two cribs and a changing table. Granted, it took me longer than it should have, and I don't recommend anyone doing that to themself, but it got done...with a smile.

It all worked out for the best, I needed the extra encouragement to complete the projects, because I think the dad-to-be's natural instinct is to go out and do things you won't be able to do once the kid(s) arrive, and the mom-to-be's nesting seems to counter this.
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sean
Re:Nesting Instinct: Bane of My Existence.
1 Year, 10 Months ago
I don't want to make it sound like I'm defending the nesting instinct. However...

You better get that sh** done now, because you aren't even going to have time to breathe after the baby arrives. If that flower bed doesn't get mulched now, it ain't gettin' mulched until 2013.
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TheDadAbides
Re:Nesting Instinct: Bane of My Existence.
1 Year, 10 Months ago
Yeah, that's a really good point. I appreciate the senior dads on site giving me a little perspective. Plus . . . man, I thought I had it bad. I haven't had to sand down anything . . . yet.
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Daddy Brad
Re:Nesting Instinct: Bane of My Existence.
1 Year, 10 Months ago
Just do it with a smile. I had to toothbrush scrub so many items that had nothing to with the baby I can't even remember them all. Resistance is futile.
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teacherdad
Re:Nesting Instinct: Bane of My Existence.
1 Year, 10 Months ago
My wife didn't go too crazy with the projects. Some basic stuff, and a lot of baby furniture assembly, but that was about it. I do have one nesting story, though.

About a month before the birth of our daughter I had finally finished putting together all of the furniture for her room. It happened that the last piece I finished was her dresser/hutch. When I finished with it, my wife was taking a nap, so I thought I'd be helpful and take all of the books, pictures, clothing, etc. that was going to go into the dresser or on the hutch and put them where I thought they might go. When my wife woke up and took a look at the baby's room, she got literally about as mad at me as I've ever seen her (and that is saying something). She yelled and screamed about how that was her job to do and I had stolen that experience from her. Then she went into the bedroom, slammed the door and locked it.

All I could do, since she wouldn't respond when I knocked on the door, was go into the baby's room, literally take down everything I had just done, put it back where I had found it, and then go and buy some flowers and an "I'm sorry" card. When she finally came out she saw the pile of baby stuff I had left outside the bedroom door, topped with the flowers, and pretty much instantly forgave me, while admitting that it was pretty much a hormonal reaction (one of the only bad ones she had while she was pregnant). It was not a fun experience for me, though.
Last Edit: 2010/04/08 23:03 By teacherdad.
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Daddy Clay
Re:Nesting Instinct: Bane of My Existence.
1 Year, 10 Months ago
I have memories of windexing refrigerator shelves and installing new pantry shelves. And almost killing myself cleaning between every slat in the a/c vents.

I couldn't carry the baby, but I could cut back all the ivy.
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