Post Punk Kitchen Forum

If I may, I need opinions from new parents about how helpful, or not, this would be:

One of my oldest and dearest friends just had the most beautiful baby boy by way of Cesarian section. She and her partner (who is also one of by BFFs) are finally home with the baby. I am on the west coast, they are on the east coast. I'm looking at sending them gourmet, prepared frozen meals. They're both vegetarian and I found what I think is a good place, magickitchen.com. The reviews look good and the prices are right for me.
They've been home since yesterday (Sunday) and the food won't get there till Friday. My question to the knowledgable PPK is, do you think it's still helpful even after they've been home for almost a week?
I know she's going to need a lot of help and it's just going to be the two of them for a week or so until her mom can come out. Her partner does do some cooking, but I assume he's going to have his hands full. Is Friday too late, do you think? Or is it never too late to help new parents?
Should I just go with something more immediate like a gift basket or edible arrangement?

Thank you for listening!!

I think that sounds so nice! I don't think its ever too late, esp if someone had a C-section, which can be tough to recover from. You are a lovely friend!

Such a thoughtful gift! I say never too late - she will still be busy and tired!

It's absolutely not too late! I couldn't take my friend meals until a month after she had her baby, but even then they were very much appreciated.

So kind and thoughtful- she will love it!

What a thoughtful gift! I think it's perfect, and definitely not too late at all. My baby is nine months old and I'd be thrilled if somebody had meals delivered!

Totally, totally helpful. The first 2-4 weeks were definitely hardest for me, and I had a pretty easy birth. I think most new parents would greatly appreciate a few meals anytime in the first couple months.

YES. Help always dies down after the first week or two, which is also when the exhaustion is really starting to set in for the parents. I think it id awesome for people to bring stuff then!

Thank you, everyone! I just needed to be sure it wouldn't seem like a hassle for them to have to cook and stuff. It's all pretty easy to do though.

I would usually go and help out myself, but I can't really afford the travel right now, so this will be the next best thing!

I'm such a lurker around here, but every time I've actually posted for advice, it's been spot on!

My kids are 4 and 2 and if somebody wanted to send me a frozen vegan meal to help out, I'd appreciate it -- I say totally go for it. You're a great friend!!

like everyone else said! YES! any kind of pampering never goes astray, MONTHS after you have a baby ;)

Yeah, absolutely! The first month is pretty rough for most parents, because not only is there the physical recovery, but also adjusting to having a child who wants you awake every three or four hours at the least. They'll probably be super happy to have some help!

I think it's a great idea. When my friends across state had their first baby I went around to the moms at work at asked them for gift package ideas. All of them said "food". They explained how difficult it was to find time to prepare a meal and actually eat so having quick, easy meals is a real big help.

I talked to her today and she can still barely move around. Her mom isn't coming to help out till next week, so I think the timing will be good. Because I have a feeling that most of the help she's getting now, which is not much, will drop off soon. And like some of you said, who wouldn't like food? ;) Thanks for all the feedback though! Now I just need get out there and get my hands on that baby!

YES! Definitely get her this gift! As someone who had an unplanned c-section it took me a few weeks before I was able to really cook dinners etc. I would have loved something like this.

I have a new friend who plans on never having children of his own and doesn't like them much. With this thread in mind, I told him that if he ever feels awkward about his friend or coworker having a baby and like he needs to do something, just bring them take-out one night. That's what they really want. Everybody else will hold the baby for them.

^ that's good advice to your friend!

So the food was delivered today and my friends were overjoyed by it! Yay! It makes me so happy to just have helped in some way, when I can't actually be there. I'll update after they cook it and see how they liked it.

yay! yeah, totally agree that you made the right choice. the first week or two, i was actually feeling pretty good and active. then the hormones dropped off and the accumulated sleep dep kicked in and i felt like i was going to die for a couple weeks until everything leveled out. the first two months are definitely still well within the "newborn" window, so pretty much any kind of help is much appreciated.