Baby Shower Dilemma- Help please

MrsBHM

Hi gals! So I have a dilemma and I was hoping with the wide range of opinions on this board that someone could make this easier for me. I'm expecting our first baby, a little boy, in early June. I live in Alabama now and my family and friends are all in Florida, an 11 hour drive away. I really don't have a support system of friends here in Alabama yet so will not be having a shower here. My family and family friends live in Daytona, FL and my two best friends live in Jacksonville which is about an hour and a half drive. I'm not going to be able to get down to Florida until my brother's wedding in early April. It's a very small wedding and my side of the family only really invited around 10 people. The problem is, my two best friends who live in Jacksonville want to throw a small shower for me 2 days after my brother's wedding. Thoughts? My gut instinct was great, my two aunts from another part of the country will already be in town, heck, I'll be in town. We can all drive up to Jacksonville, have lunch, and then everyone can go home. And since it'll be after the wedding it wouldn't be stealing any thunder...or would it? My Mom is concerned about the leftover guests from the wedding and having to entertain them and/or shuffle them to the airport and not being able to come to my shower or going to the shower and leaving the guests hanging. Other than my mom and her friends the shower will be very small think 5 of my friends plus my mother in law. The rest would all be my Mom and family friends (i.e. her friends). If I don't have the shower on this particular weekend then I won't be able to have a shower at all before he's born. I would be bummed, but it's not the end of the world and I would make that decision in a heartbeat if I thought it would steal my brother/SIL's thunder from their wedding. I feel torn because one of my two best friends will have a 3 week old at the time of the shower so even though I know she's offering to help throw it (and I think she might be crazy) I want to make it easier on her and have it in Jacksonville. But my Mom is insisting that we have it in Daytona so it will be "easier" for her and the family friends that would be invited. My Mom is sending me emails about "why don't we do it on this day, at this place, you're 2 friends could still host it and drive down here and pick up the cake on the way, etc..." I feel like it is not up to me to dictate anything about the shower other than the day that I am available for it. So with all that said......HELP! *I'm bumping on my ipad and for some reason can't get my paragraphs to seperate. Ack! Sorry!

Savvy122

I think the timing of the shower is fine.  I wouldn't see this as "thunder stealing" at all.  People will understand why it's being held that weekend and if it is an inconvenience for them to attend, they won't.

As far as location and the other details, I agree with PP: if your mom wants to be involved in the planning, give her your friends' contact info and let them iron out the details.  But if your friends are hosting, then it's really up to them as to where they hold the shower.

ema10

If your friends are hosting the shower, then it is up to them to decide where the shower will be, not your mom. I'm sure they'll work with you the best they can. If they can make it work in Daytona, great! If not, then have it in Jacksonville. Your mom can deal with it or host her own shower in Daytona. Good luck and enjoy your shower!

LKHoffa

I agree that whoever is hosting the shower gets to call the shots! Unless your mom is offering to pay, tell her to butt out (nicely!) Anyone that truly matters will drive a few hours to be there for you! One other idea- maybe your mom could throw you a shower that wkd, and your friends could throw you a smaller "Sip and See" after the baby is born? It might be more convienent for your friend w the 3 month old anyway, if you don't mind traveling!