So when people have their first kid, they can use help. Actually, a LOT of help. It’s an overwhelming, 24/7 job that usually makes people put aside their pride and reach out for any assistance they can get.
And one of the easiest things they can get is food. And lots of it. It’s often called a “meal train” and it’s so valuable.
But this couple… wow. They’re something else.
Meet Jack Jokinen. He joined the social network Nextdoor, which is basically just Facebook but for your neighborhood. He saw a post from some soon-to-be parents who asked for help after their baby was born.
And then things got CRAZY…
The week I got a thing in my mailbox to join a social network @Nextdoor. People in my neighborhood can alert each other about crime and stuff like that. Great idea! But today someone posted the most ridiculous thing ever (1/?)
— JJ (@JJFromTheBronx) April 18, 2019
Yeah, we’re ready…
“My wife and I are having a baby. I’m starting a meal train because it is our first and neither of us have a clue what we’re doing. If you are feeling neighborly” so I clicked the link bc there is no way these people are asking strangers to make them food bc they have 1 baby(2/?)
— JJ (@JJFromTheBronx) April 18, 2019
Oh, you don’t think that’s what they’re doing Jack? Well, get ready…
Turns out they are in fact asking total strangers to help them and with the most millennial phrasing I have ever seen in my life. (3/?) pic.twitter.com/ex0o9LBKVo
— JJ (@JJFromTheBronx) April 18, 2019
“On a fence of emotions” might just be my new favorite phrase.
But it gets better…
Trying not to be negative, I figured maybe it’s like “if you make a lasagna and make too much, we would accept it”. That would be very reasonable inside a totally unreasonable ask. BUT THERE WERE 30+ SPECIFIC MEALS WITH RECIPES pic.twitter.com/BkE2kBuhyJ
— JJ (@JJFromTheBronx) April 18, 2019
Yeah. YEAH.
And here are the meals…
Breakfast and Lunch…
Dinner…
And even Snacks! Because why not, right?
It keeps going!
THEN THEY LET YOU KNOW WHAT THEY DONT LIKE AND IF YOU CANT ACCOMMODATE, YOU CAN COME AND DO THEIR DISHES OR VACCUUM. WASH THEIR f*ckING DISHES OR VACUUM THEIR HOUSE?!?!?!?!?! pic.twitter.com/yJ6IXJ56TW
— JJ (@JJFromTheBronx) April 18, 2019
And going…
This guy then tops it all off be telling us we can sign up for a day to text, and if they decide they would rather not see people, WE CAN COOK THEM A MEAL AND LEAVE IT FOR THEM IN A COOLER HIS WILL PROVIDE IN THE YARD BECAUSE HE COULDN’T BE BOTHERED ANSWERING THE DOOR pic.twitter.com/FXtNRgVa8Z
— JJ (@JJFromTheBronx) April 18, 2019
Jack has the right response…
If I don’t egg their house, I deserve an award
— JJ (@JJFromTheBronx) April 18, 2019
Needless to say, the story went viral and people had some things to say…
Some negative…
If they spent less time writing up ridiculous requests and arrangements, they could have prepped a weeks worth of dinners themselves.
— lauren lin (@laurenlinmurch) April 18, 2019
They’re having a baby, not both dying of cancer. Reality is hopefully going to slap these two in the face one day.
— Andrea Bachman (@BachmanAndrea) April 18, 2019
Some positive…
Dude, chill. Meal trains have been around forever. Their approach is a little intense…but helping out a neighbor in need (new baby, surgery, death in the family, etc) is not that radical for most ppl
— Kathryn Hadel (@kathrynhadel) April 19, 2019
As long as they give back when it’s their neighbor’s turn to be in need then what on earth is the problem with this? Do you just like not knowing your neighbors or caring about them?
— Zoe Samuel (@zoe_samuel) April 19, 2019
What do you think?
Personally, I think this guy had the right reaction.
If you’re asking people to help you out FOR FREE with meals, you can list a couple dietary restrictions… but this is nuts.