Gender reveal/Baby shower

Just don’t like American ideas at all! Pointless. Pleased i didn’t know and extremely pleased dd didn’t know either. (She miscarried twins and also had an advised termination due to expected child not having a developed brain).

I don't think you need a present for a gender reveal? Maybe you could ask if there is anything you can bring?

They are obviously very excited by the gender and wantbto share that with you and I always think it's good to share others happiness, happiness is infectious

It's kind of you to help them out but if you begrudge it that might come accross to them so maybe think about what support you offer in future or make sure it's only what you won't miss.

I doubt this little party is very expensive and it may be the other family is helping to host. Even so, it's nice to get everyone together whatever the reason

My DD didn’t have a gender reveal party but we were all surprised that our Christmas Day crackers were filled with pink confetti. It was absolutely lovely. It was so nice to share all Dd and SILs happiness with all the family.
We weren’t to know that the next few months would come with the stress of Covid, lockdown, giving birth almost alone and me having to go into her bubble.

Here in Canada gender reveal parties are very common, my own daughter had one for each pregnancy.It’s usual to just invite family and close friends, she provided a small buffet type lunch followed by cutting of a cake which only the baker knew if it was pink or blue inside. On both occasions I found it quite exciting to see inside the cake. I don’t think anyone brought baby gifts, flowers for sure and maybe Prosecco, alcoholic and non alcoholic

They’ll never have that magic moment when the midwife turns the baby over and says ‘it’s a ….’. All to paint a misery and buy the right coloured clothes.

Absolutely hate this borrowed 'Murican nonsense. If your son really wants you there- but I suppose you have little choice. But I'd be very tempted to find a good excuse, like your bad cold getting worse.

All to paint a misery

You could take a Covid test just to be on the safe side.

In fact, it's not really very sociable to go with a bad cold and pass it around either.

Oh how I agree experienced the excitement of not knowing is so exciting
I m afraid a lot of the festivities that come over from US are pretty annoying and banal

Never been to one personally but my sister-in-law went to the one for her 5th grandchild (they didn't have any before for the other 4) and she said it was such a load of hype and didn't enjoy at all.

But each to their own as they say!

My DIL's sisters have organised one for her in a fortnight's time.

I really dislike them, as I am uneasy and I too feel that all may not go well.
I spent most of my three pregnancies in hospital and it was touch and go with my daughter.

DD, DIL1 and I are reluctantly putting in an appearance, so as not to offend.

It seems very early to hold a party, in my view. In my experience, baby showers were often planned when the expectant mother left work to start maternity leave and appropriate modest gifts were given. I’ve heard of gender reveal parties, but think they’re totally unnecessary. However, your son really would like you to be there, so if you’re feeling better and are not likely to spread germs, take flowers and sparkling wine and enjoy the moment. 💐 🍾

In my view its not necessary BUT its how things roll these days. I would definitely go and throw my personal views to 1 side, I wouldnt spoil a single thing for them, its what they want to do and who are we to say otherwise!

Your son wants you there , show your support and enjoy. 😃

I remember the days when we ordered a pram, cot etc or were promised them from friends but nothing came into the house until after the baby had safely arrived.

At the moment I feel as if Baby David is living right here in this house (the pop-up adverts.)!

Yes, got a second hand pram from a colleague for a tenner, a cot for the same and a push-chair for a pound. He kept them until the baby was born.

I went to a baby shower for a young friend last year- the only older person there. With games like pin the sperm in the uterus, and so on. But just a bit of fun and 1 month before the baby was born. But at such an early stage- very bizarre.

Always sceptical about expensive, often celebrity driven events that float across the pond. The baby shower is pretty well established over here now. Gone are the days when we bought our friends a gift for the baby, now what would have been a private tete a tete that has morphed into a big splash party with expectations. by the hostess of presumably being showered by whatever is on the wish list.

The gender reveal has gone one stage further, a natural rite of passage has been cranked up into some highly anticipated announcement, no not the coming of the second messiah merely "it's a boy or it's girl", really of no interest to anyone but the parents and their immediate family.

I do believe there is scope to turn almost any mundane aspect of everyday life into an event, for example "Please come along to the Whoever Household for our welcome into the family party night of our new gerbil and enjoy a glass of bubbles whilst we try our best to try and reveal their sex under all that fur We are enclosing a list of the equipment we will need for our new fur baby and you can pop into "Pets at Home" in the town where we have lodged said wish list your will see there is a lot to choose from, or you can just give us the money. We look forward to seeing you on this happy occasion. RSVP"

Also I don’t like the idea of all sitting round a mum-to-be as she opens presents for everyone to coo over. Tacky. Imagine the feelings of a friend who perhaps buys a babygro or some cute bootees then sees cashmere pram blankets receiving a big ‘wow’ moment. Consumerism at its very worst. I think gift giving ought to be private and personal.

All the young mums we know get 3d scans before their 20 week scan .I was invited to this too.
The baby even at that stage was her sisters image !
Sadly for sister it was a girl and ot the ginger haired chinese wee biy she had asked for ...lol

Urmstongran

Also I don’t like the idea of all sitting round a mum-to-be as she opens presents for everyone to coo over. Tacky. Imagine the feelings of a friend who perhaps buys a babygro or some cute bootees then sees cashmere pram blankets receiving a big ‘wow’ moment. Consumerism at its very worst. I think gift giving ought to be private and personal.

This!

Ive been to two showers and one baby reveal. They were nice. I took a towel and teddy set for the reveal and the usual baby presents for the showers. I dont think they will do the showers again for 2nd babys but it was nice to be asked to go.

Youcantchoosethem

I am really not into all this new fad, and very happy whatever sex the child is. I already have one grandchild of each, and just hope they are all healthy and happy.

I would feel the same. But as her parents are going and your DS is estranged from his father - it's perhaps understandable that he wants you to be there.

As for the expense of it all - it might well be that your DS's girlfriend is the one insisting on the party in which case he probably has to go along with it. I don't think showers and reveals are events that men, generally, are 'into'.

Like all these kinds of functions which one isn't keen on attending, you'll probably enjoy it once you're there.

It's not my thing either, I feel that having a baby, though a joyous event, is really a personal and private affair between mother and father, ultimately. But I acknowledge that is rather an old-fashioned way of thinking.

No matter how silly I find an event I can’t imagine not going to one my son has excitedly invited me to attend Especially one about celebrating their little boy or girl to be. I’d suggest it’s time to out on your big girl knickers and take joy in someone else’s an excitement - someone who presumably is very dear to you.

Grams2five

No matter how silly I find an event I can’t imagine not going to one my son has excitedly invited me to attend Especially one about celebrating their little boy or girl to be. I’d suggest it’s time to out on your big girl knickers and take joy in someone else’s an excitement - someone who presumably is very dear to you.

You seem to have missed the point that some of us, who have had difficult pregnances or lost a baby, are anxious about celebrating before the birth.
Its nothing to do with needing to put on our big girls' knickers.

Gender reveal? Baby showers? More from over the pond.?
Doubt our neighbours in Europe will have heard of this nonsense, sorry but why do we always pick up on these fads.
However to answer the question if that were my daughter ( though she wouldn’t be so daft) I would probably go.

This entirely Marydoll. Just cannot bear to even think about it.