Long Distance Shower. Ideas and thoughts appreciated!
Hi Ladies! Hubby and I are military and we are stationed in Hawaii. My family is in Washington State and I am unable to fly home for a shower. But, my mother and Aunt are insisting upon doing something, so they are wanting to do a Skype Shower. This would be for close family only, aunts, cousins, sisters, and both my grandmothers probably around 15-20 people. I am just wondering if anyone has any experience with doing a shower this way and if you have any ideas on what does or does not work. My mom is talking about having the family drop of any gifts they might want to send and then shipping them a few weeks before the "actual shower" so that I can open them on the webcam. I just don't know what else we would do when I am 2,000+ miles away so if any of you have done anything like this I would love to hear your thoughts so I can get them to my mom, or decide that I don't want the fuss before it's too late.
Re: Long Distance Shower. Ideas and thoughts appreciated!
https://www.creative-baby-shower-ideas.com/baby-shower-in-a-box-from-afar.html
There are a few ideas here. Perhaps your Mom could also send a "care package" ie. cookies, treats etc. and some balloons/streamers or other decorations? Hubby or a friend in Hawaii could set them up for you to make it more of a "showery" atmosphere?
I think it's a really nice gesture on behalf of your family. Best of luck and congratulations!
I've been to two Skype showers, one this past weekend.
Both have been just family and were a way to celebrate with relatives across the country who could not come in for the shower - but people still wanted to throw a party, send gifts, etc. Everyone sent shipped their gifts online (if you order as a group many sites (like Target) have free shipping over a certain amount, $50 at Target) or sent gift cards.
My recommendation is to not open gifts over Skype - we did that last weekend and it didn't really work well. Nobody wanted to sit and watch a computer screen for an hour - couldn't hear the MTB, small screen, etc. People ended up just wandering away. The other Skype shower we Skyped with my cousin and her husband, she showed off the nursery, her belly, said thank you, etc. It was an opportunity for people to see the MTB who hadn't in a while. Worked really well. The rest of the time we ate and chatted.
So in both cases the party was where all the people were and they partied in celebration of a new member of the family - the MTB Skyped in to join for a period of time.
Well, in general, I am really not a fan at all of these showers. At all. And GreenMonkey's one experience is largely why! You're on a computer. You aren't there. Everyone (supposedly) looking at a little screen to see you is going to get boring, and YOU are going to miss out on most of the "party" aspect of the shower too. There is going to be a lot going on that you're simply not going to be privvy to.
This is why it just seems so pointless.
Also, to rhubarb's point - you know your family, we don't. How do YOU feel this will be received? I'm really trying to put myself in the shoes of receiving an invitation like this. for someone TRULY close to me... maybe I could get on board. I'm really not sure, to be honest. For someone I'm not close to - I would find it REALLY tacky.
I will say, though, the other experience GreenMonkey had could be "do-able". if you can use it as more of a chance to take a few minutes to show everyone the nursery, maybe even your home in general if they've never seen it, then each person can take a few minutes to chat w/ you and catch up - for those who really are close to you, I can see them enjoying that.
But I actually don't think I'd call it a shower. I wouldn't make the focus about gifts. I'd make it more of a "lets celebrate her PG and she'll skype in to talk to each of us for a little while" thing.
~Benjamin Franklin
DS dx with celiac disease 5/28/10
Seems like you didn't really want anyone's opinion. I, too, think these "showers" are strange and impractical. If you want to talk and catch up with people, call them on the phone. If you want to show them the nursery, send them pictures or post a video on youtube.