DoorDash driver judged a new mom who answered the door in underwear holding her baby — years later, one life change made her regret it
Having a newborn can affect a mother in ways that others may not fully understand. Stephanie Erman, who posts as @mrs_erman092019 on Threads, recently shared an experience from her days working as a DoorDash driver. Years ago, she delivered food to a woman who answered the door, wearing only underwear while holding a newborn baby. Stephanie was shocked and wondered why she would answer the door like that. But in a post she shared on November 6, 2026, she revealed one thing she experienced that made her regret judging that woman years ago.
Stephanie recalled that the delivery happened years before. At the time, she was taken aback to see the woman standing at the door barely dressed, holding a tiny baby in her arms. She admitted that she couldn't understand why someone would answer the door dressed that way and found the whole situation surprising. But earlier this year, Stephanie welcomed her own baby, and suddenly, that old memory looked very different to her. She finally understood how little time and energy a new mother can have for anything beyond caring for her newborn. She said, "I just had my first child this year. I get it now. I’m sorry I judged you."
After becoming a mother herself, Stephanie realized that the woman had probably been dealing with the exhaustion and unpredictability that come with caring for a newborn. Getting dressed or making herself presentable for a quick food delivery may simply not have been a priority at that moment.
Research also shows just how exhausting the postpartum period can be for new mothers. A 2019 study published in BMJ Open, which analyzed responses from 4,578 women in England, found that 38.8% experienced fatigue or severe tiredness 10 days after giving birth, while 27.1% still reported it a month later. Sleep problems, anxiety, and depression were among the factors associated with postpartum fatigue. The findings highlight how physically and emotionally demanding those early weeks can be and why new mothers deserve patience and understanding.
Her confession resonated with other parents, many of whom shared similar experiences. @livingthepurelifestyle shared, "I had a shirtless, breastfeeding Mom answer the door one day, and I was just glad I'm female and she was able to feed her baby without interruption." @theuseful.finds commented, "It happens to the best of us!" @katrinatheartist added, "Some things you don’t understand until you live it."
We don't always know what someone else is going through. What may seem unusual or careless from the outside can simply be a new mother's way of getting through an exhausting day. Instead of rushing to judge, it's worth showing a little patience and understanding. After all, sometimes it takes walking in someone else's shoes to realize just how much they might be dealing with.
For more of her stories, follow @mrs_erman092019 on Threads.