From Dictionary.com:
Main Entry: baby shower
Part of Speech: n
Definition: a party given for a pregnant woman, to which guests bring presents for the baby
Example: Having a baby shower arranged by a family-member or relative is seen as bad form and self serving by many traditionalists.
Etymology: 1902
Wikipedia (as faulty of a source as any) also mentions that baby showers have traditionally been for the first born child rather than subsequent children. Baby showers are to impart wisdom to a new mother and "shower" them with gifts that a new mother and new baby might need. More recently, baby showers can occur for every baby born.
I used to love, love baby showers. I loved the games, and the fun gathering, and the excitement of a new baby. I still do, however, my love for them has waned recently. Mostly because some of the showers I have been invited to recently have been for 2nd or 3rd kids - when I've already been to a shower for the 1st kid. Didn't they get "showered" with enough gifts from their first kid? I was there. I saw how much they raked in. I don't know. Maybe not. And, on top of that, these showers seem to be given by the pregnant person's mom or mother-in-law. Is that tacky or "self-serving"? Also, an e-vite on facebook, to me, does not replace a good ol' fashioned snail mail invitation.
The 'rules' I've always known are you get a shower for #1 and it is not to be held by one of the mothers. It seems more are doing it though and for their subsequent babies. Maybe it is IF making me feel like 'really?" but I still don't see the point. I can understand the 'sip and see's' after as a small get together, but recently one of my friends had one for her 2nd (both girls too) and invited 35 people....20 of which she doesn't EVER talk to . tacky.
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