I survived SIL's shower yesterday. I'm so glad it is over though. It was absolutely GORGEOUS, but not at all intimate, if that means anything to anyone. There were more than 50 women there. There were place cards (escort cards) denoting which table to sit at, just like a wedding! There were 10 people at each table! As the SIL I did not get to sit with the rest of my inlaw's family, ugh. I was sitting with my mom thank goodness, and with my other BIL's girlfriend (he's been dating her for like 6 years, so practically like family) and also the guest of honor's sisters, who are much younger than me. Then I guess they had extended family (of the guest of honor [my SIL] because I *think* they were second cousins or something. Whatever, I thought they were rude, didn't say a word to me or my mom or BIL's GF, looked at their phones texting and generally behaving what I call "very Long Island-ish."
No offense to any Long Islanders. Certainly not all of them are that way. After all, I grew up in Westchester and am not at all like them. I think L and I are the black sheep of the family. We're such nerds. But LI's to me are all about shopping, their blinged out rings, and are decked out to the nines. I'm much more an outdoorsy girl who wants things to be comfortable.
I really want my shower to be more warm, more inviting, more comfy. I know no one absolutely LOVES baby showers, but I want people to have fun. It doesn't have to be the best experience of their life, but I want them to have enjoyed the afternoon.
They did nearly zero games. When we sat down there was a game at each place - match the celebrity parents with the baby/ies, which was fun. There was also a space for writing down a guess on how many teddy grahams were in this oversized baby bottle they were passing around. And that's it for the games. I won the celebrity baby game (surprised myself because I am so not good with pop culture) and could care less about winning teddy grahams (now if it had been filled with chocolates that would have been another story! :) The rest of the time was eating and watching her open gifts. OMG, she got a TON! Great for her, but made for a long present-opening.
We got plenty of hor d'oevres (I have no idea how to spell that) - salad, an antipasto plate, and absolutely delicious eggplant rollatini. The entrees were served family style - chicken marsala, chicken parmesan, pesto pasta, regular pasta with sauce. Then there was a huge dish of assorted desserts served to each person. And THEN there was cake! Holy cow. I barely ate any of it, I think my anxiety was in force, because I was starving after the shower.
So, the place was absolutely beautiful (an Italian restaurant in Westchester), the set up was beautiful, children's books with balloons attached as the centerpiece of each table, and the whole thing looked great. But it's probably the opposite of what I want :) Although I really have no idea what I want. Just not that :)
16 weeks today!
Well I'm from Long Island and I'm offended. There are many people from LI that are not at all like that. If you have to say, "no offense," you're probably going to offend someone.
ReplyDeleteNo offense, but, I find you very negative when you have so much to be thankful for.
I'm done reading your blog.
P.S. It's hors d'oeuvres
You're free not to read it anymore then. No one is forcing you. I guess you didn't read it anyway since you didn't read the very next sentence after, which was "Certainly not all of them are that way." But hey, you apparently don't like anyone who disagrees with your way of thinking. My blog, my venting.
DeleteGood luck with your journey. Too bad you can't be supportive of people who have had different journeys from you.
Kudos to you for making it through the baby shower. I don't know if I'll ever feel up to going to another one again.
ReplyDelete((Becky)) You are so entitled to that feeling. And you have so much more reason than me to not want to go.
DeleteWay to go for surviving that shower. My sister will be having one in the new year and I'm scared to death for it. Not sure if I'll be able to handle it at all if I'm not pregnant by then. And even if I am? Well, I don't expect to love it. Sounds like you did great, though!
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm so sorry that not, ahem, EVERYone appreciated this post. You're right -- this is your blog and you get to say what you want to. And I don't think you're negative at all. You're walking a hard road. You have the right to feel what you feel. And I think you're handling it all beautifully!
I think showers like that are pretty and all (I do wish mine had been nicer) but there is definitely something to be said for small and warm! I'd take a small informal gathering over a large and formal any day ;)
ReplyDeleteHappy 16 weeks!
ReplyDeleteUgh, that baby shower sounds stuffy and boring. I love fabulous decor at any party, but really? Place cards and a guest list of 50? Ok, maybe I'm being a little judgemental now but I can't help it. I want you to have a fabulous, intimate baby shower. That is, if that's what you want. :)