"Grandma" showers?

[Deb in IA]

Is this something new? Anyone else heard of this?


Where I work, many of the women are having their first grandbabies. About a year ago, someone decided to do a "grandma" shower for one of them. Basically, the same as a baby shower, for "items that Grandma may need at home to help take care of the baby".

While I love new babies, I admit - I'm a bit skeptical. We don't know the parents or the babies at all, and usually have never met them.

And it just seems a bit excessive to me - just my opinion, of course.

What do you think?

 

[live4christp1]

And it just seems a bit excessive to me - just my opinion, of course.

What do you think?

I agree! Along with they type (someone I know like this) that have one after another but for each one register for a ton of stuff, all new, etc. and shower for each baby.

DS & DD were 5 years apart and I didn't need, new bed, new changing table, stroller, etc. We had packed it away and saved it as we were planning to have another. We just needed basics like diapers and some girl clothes. DD even wore lots of hand me down onesies from DS.

 

[lilyv]

As a Nana, I can speak frankly, and I think it's very unnecessary. Have a shower for the parents/new baby. If that's been done, and friends still want to do more, then I think a group of dear friends should "shower" a women's shelter or other worthy organization that could very much use the help.

 

[Mickey&Donald]

Wow, the lengths people will go to to celebrate themselves never ceases to amaze me.

Just another gift-grab, IMO.

 

[kpm76]

I think they are crass. I have not heard of one around here, but I have read about them. If a good friend wants to give a new grandma a gift, that is something different. But to hold a shower is gift grabbing. And really, do grandparents really need all that stuff??? Unless the baby is living with them, I see no need for 2 and 3 of everything....

 

[okeydokey]

I think it's another example of people using any excuse in the book to get people to buy them gifts. If Gramdma needs stuff at her house she can buy it herself of the parents can bring stuff over for her.

 

[legalsea]

Hmm. I wish that 'great uncle' showers would come into vogue.

 

[eeyoremum]

We just did this at my work. I was not asked to contribute but this person's friends had a party for her. They also gave her gifts for the new grandchild.

It seems to me the the "me generation" of the 70 and 80 need to be included in an event that while is great for them (becoming a grandparent) it is not "all about them". I think its time to step aside and not expect all the glory.

Oh yes and just for the record I was raised by an "all about me" person so I might sound a little bitter. Especially since when my kids were born it was "how can you do this to me" and "you can't have PPBs I can't deal with it"

 

[NMAmy]

Hmm. I wish that 'great uncle' showers would come into vogue.

Jeez, I'm a great auntie and I got NOTHING. Well, except one wonderful great nephew and two adorable great nieces. The poor things have to make due with dd's old toys when they come to my house.

 

[live4christp1]

Next thing you know, we will be having "sitter showers" so that the baby sitter is well stocked as well.

BTW: My mom & dad are retired and they took care of DS when he was a baby and then DD when she was a baby and we just hauled everything back and forth each morning/evening. The only things she kept on hand were a couple extra pair of clothes in case they had excessive accidents and a pack of diapers (replaced by us as needed).

 

[ChrizJen]

We were actually thinking of doing this, but ONLY because we have a woman here whose DS and DDIL are both in the military (different units). They just found out they are both being deployed within 3 months of each other, and they will need her (my co-worker) to care for their 4 month old baby while they are deployed.

I guess her DDIL is in the process of requesting a delay on her orders until her DH returns, so that they don't have to leave the baby behind (evidently this is done sometimes when both parents are military). But if she's denied, then my co-worker will be taking the baby. She'll need some baby stuff I'm sure. So we were talking about doing something like that for her.

But for her, it would be more of a REAL baby shower tha a "Granny Shower". I think that having a shower and getting gifts just because you're becmoming a Grandparent is downright silly.

 

[DevilDuckie]

Oh good grief, people are shameless about the gift grabbing these days!

If the co-worker is a close friend a gift to the baby is a sweet but TOTALLY unnecessary idea. Two women my mother works with (and has for years) sent gifts for my son when he was born but they were unsolicited and a total surprise to both me and my mom.

"Grandma Showers." Lord, what will they think of next?

 

[DevilDuckie]

We were actually thinking of doing this, but ONLY because we have a woman here whose DS and DDIL are both in the military (different units). They just found out they are both being deployed within 3 months of each other, and they will need her (my co-worker) to care for their 4 month old baby while they are deployed.

Okay, exception to the rule: grandparents who suddenly find themselves the custodial guardian of a baby can be considered "new parents."

 

[live4christp1]

Okay, exception to the rule: grandparents who suddenly find themselves the custodial guardian of a baby can be considered "new parents."

Agreed!

 

[NMAmy]

We were actually thinking of doing this, but ONLY because we have a woman here whose DS and DDIL are both in the military (different units). They just found out they are both being deployed within 3 months of each other, and they will need her (my co-worker) to care for their 4 month old baby while they are deployed.

I guess her DDIL is in the process of requesting a delay on her orders until her DH returns, so that they don't have to leave the baby behind (evidently this is done sometimes when both parents are military). But if she's denied, then my co-worker will be taking the baby. She'll need some baby stuff I'm sure. So we were talking about doing something like that for her.

But for her, it would be more of a REAL baby shower tha a "Granny Shower". I think that having a shower and getting gifts just because you're becmoming a Grandparent is downright silly.

That is such a sad situation. I hope her request for delay goes through. I had a hard enough time just going back to work--I can't imagine going overseas. As far as I'm concerned, everyone remotely connected with that baby can have a baby shower. I don't even know 'em and I'd be sure to send a gift.

 

[Maleficent13]

It seems to me the the "me generation" of the 70 and 80 need to be included in an event that while is great for them (becoming a grandparent) it is not "all about them". I think its time to step aside and not expect all the glory.

Seems to me that most grandparents these days were born in at least the 1960s, if not the 1950s. Most people born in the 70s are in their 30s. I don't think many of them are grandparents. I can't even imagine a person born in the 1980s being a grandparent! My cousin was born *in* 1980...she's 28! I guess if she gave birth at 14 and then her daughter gave birth at 14...but then we have bigger issues than a grandma shower.

 

[Stacerita]

Seems to me that most grandparents these days were born in at least the 1960s, if not the 1950s. Most people born in the 70s are in their 30s. I don't think many of them are grandparents. I can't even imagine a person born in the 1980s being a grandparent! My cousin was born *in* 1980...she's 28! I guess if she gave birth at 14 and then her daughter gave birth at 14...but then we have bigger issues than a grandma shower.

I think the "me gerneration" of the 70's and 80's were the people who were coming into adulthood during that time, not necessarily born in that time. I could be wrong though. I was born during that time and I am not part of that generation, I'm an Xer.

 

[eeyoremum]

I think the "me gerneration" of the 70's and 80's were the people who were coming into adulthood during that time, not necessarily born in that time. I could be wrong though. I was born during that time and I am not part of that generation, I'm an Xer.

Seems to me that most grandparents these days were born in at least the 1960s, if not the 1950s. Most people born in the 70s are in their 30s. I don't think many of them are grandparents. I can't even imagine a person born in the 1980s being a grandparent! My cousin was born *in* 1980...she's 28! I guess if she gave birth at 14 and then her daughter gave birth at 14...but then we have bigger issues than a grandma shower.

I was born durning the "me generation". I am talking about those who lived throught the "me generation" . I am in my late 30s and was raised by parents who were part of the "all about me 70s and 80s". Not that those born durning those years are grandparents

 

[sdarwkcabemanmy]

What the fuzzy? Grandma showers? You've got to be kidding me.

My in-laws got gifts when we told them we were pregnant---DFIL got a book called "100 Reasons I love Grandpa" and DMIL got a book called "100 Reasons I Love Grandma". DFIL also (as a joke for his birthday) got a stuffed horse you strapped to your knee so you could play 'horsey' with the kids.

 

[golfgal]

When our oldest was born some of my MIL's friends took her out to lunch and gave her baby presents like picture frames and a pack and play to keep at her house. They called it a 'shower'. This was her first grandchild and she was the last of her friends to have a 'first' grandchild so they did it all in fun. I see no problem with that but one that sends out invites to people not involved in the planning, no, I would not attend one.

I have sent presents to first time grandparents, usually some cute bibs or a frame that say something about grandparents on them.