So I just found out that I'll be having a little baby shower at work sometime in the next 6-7 weeks - yaaaay! I wasn't planning on having one at all, so even though it won't be a big deal, I'm flattered and happy that they want to do one.
Anyway, MIL has also been making baby shower noises lately. However, I'd really rather not have a second one because I'm a loser and all of my friends are also coworkers (I can literally think of only two people that I don't work with that I'd want to invite - one is MIL, lol, and the other is a cousin of Ben's who lives locally...when I said I work with all my friends, I meant it!). So basically, if I had a second shower, 95% of the guests would be attending two events, and thus it's implied that they're expected to buy two gifts. I think this is rude and gift-grabby and I'd probably be a bit taken aback if I was a guest invited to both events, so I simply won't be doing a private shower.
But at the same time, MIL is disappointed that she won't get to do the whole baby shower thing, since she's one of those people who loooooooooves baby showers. Any ideas on how to work around this? (I cannot and do not want to, btw, invite MIL to the work shower.) Unfortunately, I'm thinking MIL will just need to suck it up. ![]()
Re: BR: help me out here, ladies
How nice of your coworkers...mine threw me one last week and it was really sweet and touching how generous they were. I won't lie...almost NOTHING came from my registry (except a few books...which I am LOVING)...99% of it was clothing, but thankfully the majority was 3-6 months sized which we don't have much of (we have mostly 0-3 months, some NB and some 4-6, 6-9 sized things)...
I work with all women so it was fun to hear their anecdotes and advice.
As for your situation...I agree with you 100%. If MIL is dead set on hosting something how about she plans a Sip and See, which is basically a "meet the babies" party for after you're home and settled with the boys (like around 2.5-3 months)? Then you could invite your friends/coworkers and it wouldn't be double-dipping for presents, etc. If people did bring gifts, that would be nice, but a "meet-the-babies" party is more about just getting to see the bubs!
http://www.hostessblog.com/2009/03/sparkling-sip-see-baby-shower/
http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/entertaining/southern-tradition-sip-n-see-070967
http://annabelmanners.blogspot.com/2009/06/sip-and-see-solution.html
http://miscmer.blogspot.com/2009/05/sip-see.html
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Oh this is such a good idea! I didn't even think of it! If she mentions it again, I'll tell her something like this would be fine.
lisa=
my friends really wanted to throw me a wedding shower and like you i did not want to appear grabby or gift greedy-i felt that getting all of my friends to hawaii was present enough-anyway for the shower I had my friend put on the invite something to the effect of your presence is my present so please no gifts-my suggestion-let your mil throw a shower for you and try to have one done that is not about presents-that way all-well maybe most parties happy-sorry I hope that is not the wrong answer.
I love that idea, Lori! Thanks for the links!