My mother is throwing me a baby shower but doesn't really want to plan it so i decided to take over but everything I want she just keeps sneering at me, being nasty and saying "well, people are going to bring what they want so forget about it because people will expect pink things for a girl" which is strange since she never dressed me in pink (I'm pretty sure she actually blames this for why I'm not "girly" enough).
My plan, even though we know we are already having a a girl, is to have a gender neutral party since we don't know what her gender expression will be until way after she's born. That being said, how can we put this on the invites for the guests who say sex and gender are the same thing? Also, what are some good websites to check out for favours, decorations, etc? Pretty much everything on my computers and tablets are for weddings so some baby links would be appreciated!
We also wanted a sort of a forest theme (or enchanted forest, if you will) or non-creepy circus with a lot of themed treats, prizes, etc. Our back up theme, if we couldn't decide on something was a general summer theme since the party will be in June.
This is what we have so far:
- mani/pedi kits with theme related nail polish for the ladies. -> still need a guy equivalent.
- a book of our favourite recipes
- gift cards
- macaron trees/cones
- stuffed mini-burgers(beef, chicken, and veggie) with condiments including my homemade relish and spicy pickles
- cheese/pâté sampler with summer fruits
- assorted salads (potato, coleslaw, nicoise, pasta (pesto and macaroni)
- summer fruit cake/cupcakes and homemade ice cream
What are some suggestions for other favours? We have an idea of what to give the ladies but what about the guys that come? Should it be coed?
Re: I would love some suggestions!
the reason my fiancé suggested a guy equivalent is since his friends are NOT the mani pedi or showering type. They are "manly men" his words, not mine, that used to all be in wrestling so even having a guy mani pedi kit is a threat to their masculinity. The girls invited are super girlie.
It's not a free party since she was going to use my money anyways
Many women I know have thrown their own showers and no one commented on it. I wasn't even going to have one but SIL said she wanted to throw one but mom said she didn't want a "cheap, tasteless party" do this is what happened.
My other just wants to say that she hosted the party even though it will be at my Uncle's condo's party room and I will be footing the bill.
Also, I was never going to "dictate" what to bring. Our registry is all neutral and we wanted to keep the invites neutral so that even those that don't know the sex wouldn't make gender specific colour choices, particularly since pink is traditionally a boy colour with green and yellow being associated with girls prior to the 1950s and we are against western gender roles. I never said I was going to tell people what to buy but usually gifts come off a registry so we kept it simple. We also want items that we will be able to pass along and reuse for any future children and grandchildren, etc. Everything we have chosen so far has been in shades of green, blue, cream/beige, blue, brown, with only the barest accents of pink/red or yellow/orange. We simply wanted to make it clear on our invites that we have no specific gender expectations for our daughter and wanted to keep this more about celebrating our child and our success at having a lasting pregnancy than "look at all the cute, frilly nonsense." This is also because we do not want any clothes and everyone is very aware of this as she has my clothes, and the clothes from nearly a dozen cousins already stocking her wardrobe. As far as we are concerned the only thing we are actually a sking people for are diapers for he diaper raffle since that's the oly thing besides cloth diapers and some new sheets on the registry.
https://pregnant.thebump.com/pregnancy/baby-showers/qa/who-hosts-baby-shower.aspx
https://www.circleofmoms.com/young-moms-aged-20-30/is-it-tacky-to-throw-my-own-baby-shower-235084
Edit: no formal invites sent but a "save the date" type call went out.
yeah, considering we lost at least one baby before this one and we had been trying for years with little to no success and there were concerns about uterine cysts having caused damage in the past.
It sounds like a very traumatic experience for you and I can understand that you are excited to welcome this LO, but if your mother and father were THAT cold and unsupportive and your mother "hates this baby", why in the world would you want to throw an uncomfortable party under the guise that she is hosting it to celebrate with these people who are against your pregnancy anyhow? Go on a weekend getaway "babymoon" as a couple to celebrate. Spend money on something you'd actually enjoy rather than his and her manicure sets.
I'm not saying I would actually put tht on the invite just that my mother keeps calling it a baby shower and we didn't know what to call it. She's doing it because se couldn't stand that my SIL offered to throw one because she doesn't like her. We're going through with it because everyone keeps asking when we are having a baby shower and when I originally told everyone we weren't, our friends and family were shocked which was when my SIL offered and mom just couldn't take it and said she was doing it. We are letting her because she doesn't want other people to know how she really feels about things and we are sick of the questions and comments from everyone about her o we are just going along with it. It's what we o in my family.
So, baby showers are not your cultural norm, the only person who offered to throw you a shower is your mom who "hates the baby" and is only "throwing" the shower in name only while you would be footing the bill and doing all the work, paying to feed and hang out with and save face for people who are not even supportive of your pregnancy, AND you don't want gifts. All signs point to DO NOT THROW A SHOWER. You are not obligated to have a baby shower to "keep up appearances". Why would you want to spend money on making yourself miserable pretending that your mom is the doting grandmother? It sucks that your family is acting this way about it, but that is how it is, so why spend money on pretending it's not? Do something special to celebrate with your SO who truly cares about your pregnancy.
Like everyone else has said, spend your money on something else, not a "save your mother's face and call it a baby shower" party. When people see Baby Shower on the invitation, they will bring a gift because it's a *gift giving event* and it's rude to show up empty handed. If they see everything on your registry has been purchased they will undoubtedly buy you clothes because that's the go-to shower gift. And if they know your baby's sex they will likely give you girly clothes because that's what people do. I didn't register for clothes at all but it was 75% of what I got at my showers for DS. And do you know what I did? I smiled and said thank you. Even if it was something I knew I would never in a million years dress him in.
All that being said, I'm firmly in the No Shower In This Case camp. But clearly you don't care what the rest of us think so I will offer this instead: do not under any circumstances mention gifts on the invitations. Do not mention gender neutrality. Do not mention your loss (it's awful that you had to experience it and I'm truly sorry for you but that would be terribly awkward for all parties involved to call attention to it).
Also, for the record, an "I have a viable pregnancy!" party is weird as all get out, especially if you share that as the reason for the shindig. Certainly celebrate with your SO every day you make it past your loss mark but you needn't throw a party for the rest of the world to acknowledge it with you.
TL;DR: don't do it. Just don't.
V|V TSP V|V
All of the PP's had great points. I truly agree with these 2 things:
1) Throw a party at your own place and invite over only people you want there. Just a regular BBQ or whatever. Not something to do with baby. Truly......at the party people will want to talk about baby and congratulate you and celebrate. No 'shower' designation necessary.
2) use the $$ you would have spent on the not-fun-stressful-sounding-shower on something for you and DH to privately celebrate your LO. babymoon, road trip, hotel stay in a new place, whatever. make it special and take lots of pics.
I'm actually a grad student at columbia, you can look it up if you want.
Wait, you're planning your wedding and anniversary together? Just tell your mom you don't want to plan this; ask your SIL if the offer is still valid to "help" you with the party your mom is foisting on you, if you're unwilling to just cancel the whole thing outright.
she's still going to have it. I figure I just won't show up. She says she doesn't care if I do. Guess I know what she really thinks now.
I have to submit my thesis proposal, with it goes a form about my completed credits and advisor. And it's our civil service anniversary combined with our religious ceremony.
no. I'm new on here. I meant the CU fu foundation website.