To think baby showers are a bit naff

[1wokeuplikethis]

And cringey, as in asking people essentially to buy you stuff for getting knocked up and not particularly inkeeping with traditional English values. I know it's American. I know it's become popular over here. And I know lots of women love them.

I am currently (what feels like) seven years pregnant with my second. I didn't have a shower the first time and I don't want one this time. I would feel aghast if one was organised for me and probably try to out-spend the guests by getting in posh food and booze.

I don't know. Think perhaps I'm being a grumpy twat but I feel Pissed off at being invited to one for my colleague. Why not just send out a note to everyone you know and ask for monetary donations towards your baby?!

Actually, I should point out that I went to a friend's baby shower when I wasn't pregnant and let the whimsy of it just pass me by. And the wine helped.

Maybe it is this particular person. She is very look how much this cost, I won't even TELL you how much blah cost, snooty. Do I have to remortgage to get her a gift she will appreciate?

Is the general consensus that these showers are FUN! And CUTE! ??

I've been to a few for close friends and they have always been relaxed occasions and haven't felt "grabby" or involved any naff games. I have never thrown one myself though.

To be honest, my discomfort with them probably stems from my slightly feminist feeling that welcoming a baby is not just something that women should do and that women should get excited about! Personally I find the fact that they are usually all-female affairs (often while the men disappear off to the pub and leave the women to coo over baby gifts) is slightly patronising. I think I would have much less of a problem with a baby shower hosted by both parents with a mixed gender group of guests, rather than an occasion that seems to prioritise the mother's role and expects only women to attend.

I fully appreciate that this is just my own personal view and that for many women they enjoy baby showers as an opportunity to celebrate and discuss the birth / mothering side of having a baby with other women. However, I have always had a slight sense at the baby showers that I have attended that they seem to reinforce very old-fashioned notions of what men and women should feel about babies!