Ive been doing this for years and it really helps if you like to take halfdays off or wouldbe unexcused days off.
Within the first couple of weeks casually, as if by happenstance, mention you have a kid, a partner and a niece/nephew.
I have lil mickey my 4 yr old stepson who I've known all hus life, Angie my gf who lived a couple of apts down w her mother (who recently passed. Rip).
Mickeys been sent home from daycare, angie snd mom jave gotten flats, weve had events thst didnt allow me to go to surprise weekend shifts. They're a blessing. 🙂