Why have a 'gender reveal' party if you clearly want a specificly a boy or girl?

[Healingsfall]

Couple I know who's baby is due in January had a "reveal" if boy or girl this weekend. He found out at the scan and planned a reveal for his partner and family/friends.

The last few months she has been saying they think it's a boy, he (her partner) would love a boy etc and they are excited to find out what they're having.

They filmed the reveal and posted it on Instagram, and he looks despondent from the outset, and as they pull the confetti tube things and it pops with pink confetti you can see the disappointment on both faces whilst trying to mask disappointment and act happy. If anyone is a Sex and the City fan it's like watching miranda pull the "excited " face when saying it's a boy!

Clearly, all the people in said video thought it was going to be a boy because their reactions as the pink confetti is displayed wasn't a complete reaction of joy, more surprise, and delayed congratulations. It was really weird.

I found out if boy or girl at the birth of both my children and remember being completely thrilled each time. I can't imagine reacting so deflated at the sight of pink or blue confetti having built everyone up what we thought they might be?

All I can say is why on earth does anyone have a gender reveal anyway
Literally, who else cares what sex your baby is. No one. That's who.

I don’t understand gender reveal parties anyway. Other than the parents, who cares? 🤷‍♀️

The nonsense of the gender reveal party isn't really the issue here. I'm not sure you should be having a baby if you are going to be so sorely disappointed if it turns out to be one of the two things it's equally likely to be....

It seems to be a thing now along with baby showers as a normal occasion when having a baby.

First and foremost, I find the event in general tacky. But you’re completely right - It is so awkward when people do this. If you’re so certain anyway, you don’t need a reveal. And if you’ve got a preference, you need to be a first rate actor because everyone who’s come out at your request to this non-event does not deserve to be put in a position where they’re having to pretend they’re happy when you’ve ruined it for everyone.

I hate all this nonsense. I’ve seen so many on social media where one or both of the parents is clearly disappointed. Or those awful ones where things go wrong with the fireworks/explosions and they start a fire or someone gets hurt. Hideousness.

I didn’t find out till birth as it didn’t matter to me. I do understand some circumstances where people find out during pregnancy, but putting on a party to ‘announce’ it to everyone else is just a really weird idea to me. ‘Hey everyone, it turns out our unborn baby has this type of reproductive system!’ Erm. Ok!

Whole thing is ridiculous

The first part of your post I'd totally agree with.
But the second - well it may matter to some people.

Unfortunately. The whole thing just feels grabby and attention seek-y to me.

I'm a big lover of finding out at the birth. Otherwise it would feel like opening your Christmas presents before Christmas day. You go 9 months of growing your baby and it's a big thrilling happy moment when you find out the sex after the long (in my case) drudgery of going through child birth.

I remember telling my mum after I'd given birth that she had a granddaughter and the excitement she must have felt to go out and buy some really cute pink baby clothes that day to bring to the hospital. Same a couple of years later with my ds.

I wanted a girl after 2 boys and absolutely no way I’d have found out publically.

my mum had the excitement on the day. As did all friends waiting to know the gender for 9 months, but I had found out at 20wks but kept it a secret

I saw a reveal on instagram or facebook where the dad actually had a tantrum because the confetti came out of the balloon pink…

So true. Snd they seem tacky to me.

It does make me lol a bit when people claim it is like opening your presents before Christmas Day. I knew ds was a boy, it didn’t mean I just put him in the corner and forgot about him when I had him!

I guess it's everyone's individual preference, but for me, the best thing after giving birth (my babies wanted to stay in as long as possible and go through long labours 🤨) was the excitement of finding out their sex

My thoughts exactly.

I think gender reveals are a bit odd anyway. If it’s just for fun and the parents don’t really mind it’s ok, but I still wouldn’t have one myself. We found out the sex of our baby really early on before we even announced the pregnancy, but just because we were curious and wanted to be able to say him or her when discussing the baby. We didn’t make a big thing of it. I actually kept forgetting to tell people we knew. People would ask me what I was hoping for and I would respond with “I’ve known I’m having a boy for ages, did I not tell you?”. I don’t know why people get so worked up about gender. I was just excited to be having a baby.

I thought I wanted a girl with my first as I'd just finished nannying for a girl who was scrumptious. I realised I needed to prepare myself for a boy and whenever I imagined my baby in their cot it was actually a boy. I had a boy.

When I was expecting my second I thought another boy would be great as I'd know what I was doing but if I had a girl, shopping! I had a girl.

With my third there was an issue at the scan so I made a snap decision to find out. I was thrilled to be having another boy.

I feel like I got what I wanted every time but of course, I'd have been happy whatever I had and three boys would have been awesome.

As for the comment that no one cares what anyone else has, if I'm speaking to an expectant mum I always say don't tell me but do you know what you are having? I like to wait for the surprise of the birth announcement.

Some reveals go way too far with people damaging property, ending up in criminal trouble, being fined and even killing people! They started off ok with the white cake and you cut it and see if it’s blue or pink but some people have really escalated them!

And no one is saying or implying that.

I'm not sure you should be having a baby if you are going to be so sorely disappointed if it turns out to be one of the two things it's equally likely to be....

Totally. Morons. If you can’t deal with getting a child of the “wrong” sex, how on earth are you going to cope with a child which has different opinions or ambitions from you.

See also these ridiculous people who insist on having more and more children until they get one of the “right” sex.

Really?? How?? 😲