Opening presents

sylviabarboza · June 2015

My baby showers tomorrow . I know this is going to sound like a silly question , but anyone that has had a baby shower were you nervous to open presents ? Im more excited then anything but im also so shy . I just dont like all attention on me . I wanted my SO to be sitting next to me , and helping me open the presents . His mom said no that's not how you do it ... so now im even more nervous . Theres going to be 100 or even more people and dont get me wrong ofcourse im SOO thankful but my SO family is sooo big . Everyone is nice to me ofcourse as weve been together for 6 years but theyre not the most "warming" people so i cant help but feel a little anxious. So was anyone who was nervous turned out to not even care when the time came ?

Knottie25121326 · June 2015

Mine was today and I was really nervous and anxious but what did help was my SO by my side he helped me so that I wouldn't feel so awkward and have a panic attack but I think I would have been just fine if he hadn't sat by me. It's exciting and fun seeing all the things your baby is receiving so I think once you think about it that way it takes some of the nervousness away that and pretend no one is watching you lol It'll go great just relax and just keep in mind that it's all for your benefit!

AziaNick · June 2015

I'm the exact same way, I get nervous when the attention is on me. I get nervous on what if I say the wrong thing or offend someone or someone's gift. I think it's ok for your husband to be there, it's not just your baby but both of yours.

sylviabarboza · June 2015

Thank you ladies cause i really felt silly but im just shy . He says he will be with me lets just see if his mom does not try to control it cause she can be that way .. but it is all for the baby so im basically opening the presents for him so it helps to think of that haha . Ill just try my best to zone out the people watching =; ;;)

whyyesimquirky · June 2015

Same way here. I don't even like birthdays... don't sing to me and all that stuff. I just don't like that attention.

denisealonzo44 · June 2015

I was nervous too! Didn't want to look fake excited.. Or too not impressed with gifts... Also didn't know if I should read the cards aloud.. Luckily it was a few hours and a lot of mimosas in.. So the guests were waiting for the gift opening to leave lol.. Just remember they're excited for you.. Not judging you

pearlv88 · June 2015

I also don't like being the centre of attention. So what we did for my bridal shower and my baby shower last weekend was had the guest come and sit beside me as I opened their present. It makes it more intimate and provides a little photo op too. I love doing it this way!

bmm7415 · June 2015

I also dont like being the center of attention and I had a large shower too. What i did was open the gifts up as the guests came into the shower, that way i didnt have everyone staring at me and with there being 80+ people, they didnt all have to sit around for a few hours just watching me open gifts.

Bugs1718 · June 2015

I had my DH sitting with me and helping. It was nice to have him there with everyone watching. I wouldn't care what his mom says, it's a shower for your baby - yours and his child. He has just as much right to be there as you. My DH wanted to be there, he didn't want to feel left out. I dislike that society makes it out like it's just the woman having the baby. We certainly are the ones who are pregnant but as soon as that little one comes out, it's a shared responsibility and I'm sure he'll be using lots of the items you get for your shower.

ChristyM87 · June 2015

I don't see anything wrong with DH sitting next to you helping. It sounds like you are having a co-ed shower, and he can show his appreciation too.

pinktorridora · June 2015

We are playing Bingo at my shower next weekend. I did that so people have something to do while I open presents and they won't just be watching me the whole time!

carlyyo · June 2015

Just remember that everyone there loves you and knows you and is cheering you on. I think it's fine if your husband is there with you while you open. My only recommendation is, especially since you have 100 people coming, is to open the gifts fairly quickly. People like watching you open gifts, but not if it takes hours on end. I would tell your husband too. He can help you unwrap the next gift while you are showing the crowd the current gift. It can help speed things along. Make sure not to go too fast either, may sure you announce who the gift is from, show it to the crowd, and properly thank them and say how much you love it - but then on to the next gift. You will do great. Enjoy your day!!

MrsJIsbell · June 2015

My baby shower was females only and my mom suggested having my husband come at the end to be there for opening the presents. She said her event planner (my mom is nuts, don't judge lol) told her that's what people are doing these days.

I don't think there's anything wrong with your SO being with you. Do what makes you feel happy and comfortable like everyone had said, it's his baby too! Sorry but grandma needs to butt out.

hilarym7 · June 2015

Omg! I haven't related to a post on here more than this one! I was DREADING opening presents in front of everyone. I was soooo grateful for everything everyone got me but I get major anxiety having everyone watch me waiting for a reaction. It goes fast and once you get through it you feel so much better!

Something I did that really helped me was saving the cards for later..a lot of people write long personal messages in there and it makes gift opening longer and more uncomfortable.

mommy1922 · June 2015

Mine was yesterday, and as I was opening my presents, some people (my cousins) were talking and getting louder by the minute. How awkward was it that as I'm trying to read out cards and show my gifts, they were laughing and carrying on with their conversation until the shower coordinator made them quiet down! LOL Hey, I don't seek attention, BUT I don't run from it either!

mommy1922 · June 2015

I will add this: enjoy the moment, Mommy! These people love and adore you, and it's so touching when you see how much people already care about your LO when you see the gifts they've bought for the baby.

ssnyder016 · June 2015

One thing that helped me through the awkwardness was remembering that everyone has to do it! Haha it sounds so silly but I was super nervous and anxious, the whole time but I just kept telling myself: people expect this, and everyone does it. And pretty soon it was over! Haha good luck!

mirrenrue · June 2015

I was nervous too. I actually tried to get out of it, since my shower had like 55 people and I never see them because we live three hours away. I didn't want the two hour baby shower to be just gifts, I wanted to visit. But my mother made me. However, my husband sat with me and that helped. A lot of the people didn't watch the whole time. It wasn't that bad. But for his mother, you can tell her that may not be the traditional way but it's the way you two want to do it. In the end, isn't it about you both and your baby anyway? So good luck and enjoy your day!! It is very exciting to open up and see everything.

AlwaysSunny1012 · June 2015

I decide not to do the gift opening thing. No one missed it and the shower was just a party with good drinks and food. I don't regret it at all.

ashleytiff · June 2015

I didn't open mine til a good grip of people left. I wasn't planning on opening them at all until every one was gone but people kept asking when I was going to open stuff.
I don't like all the attention on me either.
I was super overwhelmed by the shower already, I wanted to hide in my room.

shmarpler · June 2015

I'm right there with you. My husband and I skipped the garter/bouquet toss at our wedding. We also sneaked away without a big send off. I was skittle nervous about my baby shower for the same reasons. I decided to keep it small and only invited close friends. I had a blast! It doesn't sound like you will get to have a smaller shower, but just remember that everyone is there to celebrate you and your little bundle of joy so relax and enjoy it as much as you can.

Miz_Liz · June 2015

If any little kids are invited, invite them to help you...they LOVE it and it takes some of the eyes off of you.

mfitch9191 · June 2015

I'm the same way so in the invitation I asked that people bring their gifts unwrapped and we will set them all on a table to display if people want to see everything i got. That way they don't have to sit and watch me unwrap everything. Plus that takes a lot of time and I'd rather visit with family and friends

ourlittledarling · June 2015

I think this is a pretty common feeling. I don't like the opening of gifts while everyone watch thing but the hostesses always insisted. I don't know when it would feel normal to be the only person receiving a ton of gifts while everyone watches? I always feel like I don't express my gratitude very well even though I feel thankful. As pp said little girls around you helping can certainly take the pressure off of everyone focusing on only you. It is also helpful to have someone beside you writing down which gift came from each guest so interacting with that person will give you something else to focus on.

daniellehoying · June 2015

I feel the same way. The most nerve wracking part was thanking everyone at the beginning & end. In the middle my family and Dh's family uses that time to catch up with one another, so they aren't "gawking" at me the whole time

LECDale · June 2015

Please tell his mother that might not be the way SHE did it, but it is what you and your SO would like. So she is going to need to respect that. You're in for the long haul if you don't put your foot down.

Try to enjoy your shower! It will be fun!

xhochixx · June 2015

I always get nervous opening or giving presents. Like, if someone got the same thing I wouldn't want them to feel bad... Like oh, now I have two! I wouldn't know how to react.. So hopefully I don't get the exact same thing more than once, that is where my anxiety comes in. Haha. How would you even react?? Haha does that even make sense? I can't seem to formulate coherent sentences these days.

dweekes · June 2015

We had a huge co-ed shower w/ tons on gifts. We didn't open gifts @ the shower...we did it the next day @ home, together while my sister took pics of both of us holding the gift up & my niece wrote a list for thank u cards. The shower experience was just as much my husband's as it was mine...we wanted to open everything together. Plus it's tiring when ur pregnant to go through so much on ur own so it was nice to have him w/ me. It's your day...ur mother-in-law had hers...do what feels right to u & ur SO. When it's u 2 up there together u won't think about having the attention on u. Have fun!

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