There's a decent chance I will be missing my own shower (on my birthday no less) due to this whole low amniotic fluid mess. The hostesses and I are trying to come up with a game plan. If you were going to miss your shower, would you
A) Have a proxy open your gifts for you while you are watching via cell phone.
Have the hostesses thank everyone for coming, feed them, and then haul the gifts back to my house for me to open later.
C) Something else. Rescheduling is not an option.
Thanks for your thoughts!
Re: WWYD re: missing your own shower
Could you also set up a video link via Skype on laptops, so that you'd have a better chance to see what's happening than via a cell phone?
Sorry, mama, this sounds like no fun at all!
I don't think continuing with the shower if the main person isnt there, they want to celebrate with you not the host! I wouldn't attend, I would drop off my gift at a later date!
It sucks to cancel it but if you have no other choice!
If rescheduling is not an option, I would do skype.
The wonders of technology.
I would go with option B.
Then take pictures of you with each gift when you open it.
Get prints made.
Include photo with thank you card and hand written note.
Would that be doable?
LFAF Summer 2016 Awards:
I like this option
C) Postpone until after the baby arrives. My family shower had to be postponed because we ended up having my dad's funeral that day. My aunt rescheduled it for 3 wks after DS1 was born. It was great and people got to hold and see the baby too.
I would not do A at all. My MIL made one of her SILs host a baby shower for me, even though DH and I told her no because we had no plans to travel back to Ohio. MIL insisted because it was finally her turn to be grandma to be. She opened up all the gifts and then re-wrapped them and sent them to me. So tacky! DH and I were mortified. I realize that your situation has different motivation, but I would just wait until after the baby so your friends and family can see you not some other person opening up the gifts.
As a guest I would not be excited to go to a party where the guest of honor wasn't there. If you aren't up for postponing then I would just cancel. Most people will still bring you gifts anyway.
If possible, postpone until after the baby arrives. A friend of mine had to do this due to an early delivery, and it turned out really well.
If that's not possible, I would just cancel. I don't think I'd enjoy going to a shower when the MTB wasn't there. Maybe have a place where people who wanted to could drop their gifts so that they would reach you.
I agree. It really sucks that you'll have to miss it. Sorry, hun!
I would just cancel too. If I were a guest in this situation, I wouldn't want to go if the guest of honor wasn't going to be there. I'd rather just drop the gift by the house before or after the baby was born, as the mother preferred.
It sucks, but your friends and family really just want to support you. Whether or not there's a party doesn't matter that much.
~ BFP #2: 11/13/12. EDD 7/25/13. ~
~ It's a BOY! Grow little guy, grow! ~
I'm sorry. This is difficult situation and I know you have bigger concerns to worry about.
The way I see it either cancel the shower entirely even if it means losing a deposit or continue on with your shower, join via Skype session if you can. Don't open presents then, just have them hauled to your house and open them at your convenience. I am sure your guests will understand the situation. You can take a pic of yourself with the gift when you open it and send it along with the thank you card for a more personable touch.
Oh man- first I just wanted to say sorry, that's a crummy situation to be in!
I think if you could postpone the party until after the baby arrives, like other posters have said, that would prob be the best option. But if not, I guess it depends on your guests. I think if it were just family, sending your hubby to open everything would be a pretty good option. I think that some of my family members, especially the older ones, would probably still enjoy watching open everything and seeing all the cute baby stuff. But, I also know my friends and some of my younger friends would prob rather just skip it if I wasn't there, and would drop their gifts off whenever was convenient for them.
I think it just comes down to whatever your comfortable with and what you think your guests' preferences would be. Even if you had to cancel, hopefully the restaurant would understand that these circumstances were out of your control wouldn't hold onto the deposit... or maybe would be willing to give your hostess a gift certificate or something so that it's not a complete waste of money.
Good luck!
I think it's really too bad that you may have to miss your shower. I will keep my FX for you that you will have good news from your AFI at the end of the week, and for a healthy baby.
Please keep us updated!