Yet when it comes to baby showers it’s a bit more mysterious. I’ve had what seems like a bazillion friends give birth or get pregnant in the last year, but most have been states away or people through work so I haven’t attended a full-fledged baby shower in a while. I’ve thrown a baby shower in my time, but the child in question is now sadly 7 years old. How she grew so fast I don’t know, because I certainly can’t be 7 years older myself.
So when faced with the prospect of throwing a baby shower for my sister-in-law, which I excitedly volunteered to do the first time I saw her after she told me she was pregnant, I did what any 30-something would do. I logged onto BabyCenter and The Bump for ideas. But what I found surprised me. My jaw dropped and my eyes bulged at the trends. Custom wedding-like invitations. Serious food spreads. Expensive favors and elaborate themes. Renting venues.
What happened to a sweet intimate party at home where the focus isn’t on the locale, but rather getting to dish with the mom-to-be about the nursery, sympathizing over pregnancy symptoms and the impending labor, and cooing over cute outfits and baby gifts?
One woman on BabyCenter’s forums bragged that she threw herself a “low-cost” baby shower and was very happy with the result. The price tag for that low-cost shindig? $,2,000. No, I’m not kidding. And that’s before me getting started about the mom-to-be throwing her own party.
And, yes, I realize I sound a bit crotchety. And, yes, I realize I sound REALLY old. But when did baby showers become mini-weddings?
Now I’ve got anxiety about the baby showers measuring up to the pressure of the online forums when I co-host two showers for my sister-in-law next month. Am I alone in this sentiment? What were the best parts of your baby shower? Any tips you can send my way for a memorable and sweet celebration of the mom-to-be and my soon-to-arrive niece or nephew?
Jennifer Erickson is a Sr. Public Relations Specialist and won’t even entertain the idea of a game that measures the mom-to-be’s baby bump.
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