I’m not a fan of baby showers. When I was pregnant I was asked if I was going to have one but as I’m not a fan I also decided not to be a hypocrite and therefore decided not to have one.
I’d already been overwhelmed with the generosity of people and had most of the stuff I would need so I thought it would be greedy of me to also have a baby shower. If you’ve not been pregnant and decide to have a baby, those wanting to get rid of their baby gear are usually more than happy to do so. Keep that in mind before you go and buy all brand new stuff.
Once my son was born I was given even more things for him, including some gifts from people I rarely saw, and I was really appreciative of all of them. And during those first few months of his life I hardly had to spend any money on him as I was able to breastfeed and I mainly used cloth nappies.
A couple of friends have had babies in the last year and both of them had a baby shower. Due to other commitments I wasn’t able to make either of those functions but I did pop round to their places after they had their babies with a present, and food for the parents.
If anything, I think that’s more useful, friends bringing you food after you bring the baby home. A couple of friends did that for me and it was great. I also had two friends come over weekly and bring us all takeaway. That was my weekly social event sometimes. Being a new mum, especially a single mum, can be quite isolating.
I recently read about a poem a woman who’d just had a baby shower sent to those who didn’t attend trying to guilt them into buying a gift for the baby. Read it for yourself. It has to be seen to be believed.
I hope it’s a hoax, but unfortunately it’s probably not.
If, god forbid, one of my friends or acquaintances did something similar to me they wouldn’t be on the friends list any more. Some of the commenters were suggesting sending an equally passive aggressive poem back but I would just ignore it and fade out of their lives. If that’s all they saw me for, a present giver, then they’re not worth it.
What’s your thoughts on baby showers, and/or the supply of food when you’ve got a new baby?
