I'd have thought a "I just don't do those" would be politely understood. They'd make you go into detail?
You would hope. But some people, instead of saying "I just don't do those", make a snap decision that they're not going to any more baby showers ever again, because as a single person who has tried to be supportive of everyone else, they're just DONE and aren't going to attend/help out with the baby shower they said they would. And then send an email saying that NOT to the other people involved in the shower-planning, but to the expecting mom. The night before the shower.
... hey, look at that. I still have issues about that baby shower.
oh Jilli. what a nightmare.
It kind of was. The mom and baby (now toddler, OMG) are wonderful people, and I made damn sure she had a good shower. But between that, and one of the other planners showing up 45 minutes late and throwing a prima donna hissy fit because she was a new mom, wouldn't anyone think about HER NEEDS, yeah. I don't plan baby showers any more.
(Plei and my parents kept me sane during that party. And Pete took me out for drinks afterward.)
Jilli that story reminds me of when I worked at a small gift shop. My boss was 7 or 8 months pregnant and her sisters came in and screamed at her for over an hour about how difficult her friends were making the planning of the baby shower. I could not believe it.
I do have a handful of literally certifiable members of the family, but at least I have the freedom to turn down invitations. It's how I keep myself out of the institutions.
Vortex, your not baby shower is what I remember baby showers being.
That was exactly my intent. :)
I would say I retaliate against baby showers by making the gift I bring, but I am actually rather proud of the baby blankets I make.
There was a stretch of time in my mid-20s when I kept saying someone should throw me a "looks like I'm going to be single for a while but I deserve nice stuff too" shower. Oddly enough no one did.
I loved Richard Scarry as a child.
I envied with the strong envy of a new reader my cousin's Richard Scarry's something or other. And began to covet it all the more when I discovered that my library only had a Richard Scarry picture dictionary. Wow, I can still feel that visceral WANT.
Smonster, Lots of ~ma for your sister.
I can only imagine retaliating against a shower by not going. But I can't even imagine that, since I've been lucky.
We made onesies with iron ons (mostly Ramones and funny song lyrics) and hung out. It was fantastic.
Awesome! I should track down some Ramones iron-ons for Rose -- they are by far her favorite band.
My boss was 7 or 8 months pregnant and her sisters came in and screamed at her for over an hour about how difficult her friends were making the planning of the baby shower. I could not believe it.
Jesus.
smonster, lots of ~ma for your sister that it's something easy and cheap to solve.
