"Grandma" showers?

[Rock'n Robin]

I forgot which poster said most grandparents were born in the 60s? I was born in 1963, I'll be 45 in July, and my oldest is 16. I waited until I was married, had a house and a master's degree until I had kids. The HUGE majority of my friends are not grandparents yet!
When I had my kids, if you got 2 of something, you gave the extra to grandma if she could use it--like a port a crib or stroller or car seat. Other than that, a shower is silly.
Robin M.

 

[golfgal]

Tacky can't begin to describe this. My mom would never allow anyone to do that.

If anyone even thought about giving my MIL anything for a child I have/adopt, I will have to stand my ground, I can't stand the woman and she is not going to profit from my child, especially since she lives all the way on te other side of the US (there is a God), but I can sure bet she will try. Lucky for her we can't have children and may not be able to adopt either.

Suzanne

Really, if you go out to lunch with your best friends and they give you some gifts to celebrate your first grandchild you think it is tacky??? I don't think there is anything wrong with this at all. Now, if they had a party and invited other people expecting gifts, yes, tacky but some friends that have been friends for over 40 years giving a gift to a new grandma, nothing wrong at all with this.

 

[ilovejack02]

My mom is a school nurse and they do this at her school. They are a close knit bunch and love celebrating new babies. It isnt so much a shower for baby items, but what they do is stock grandma's home library for the baby.
I think its a very nice idea.. mom got so many lovely books for our little one. Now there is no reason in the world for them to give her the big stuff thats just silly.

 

[bluefairy13]

Many "showers" are not really gift grabbing parties in our area. We give "showers" just to celebrate the babies. Our neighborhood just had a couples "shower" for a couple that are due in a month and we just wanted to get together and wish them well. I guess a couple people brought a few little things but it wasn't about the gifts.

We had a grandma "shower" for a neighbor because she was so excited to be having her first grandchild. We called it a shower but it was just a chance to get together. I gave her my favorite kid's book to have at her house but there were not major presents. This was anything but tacky, it was very sweet.

Neither of these parties were given by the people themselves and both were just because we all liked them and wanted to celebrate the babies.

Don't assume all grandma showers are gift grabbers.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Many "showers" are not really gift grabbing parties in our area. We give "showers" just to celebrate the babies. Our neighborhood just had a couples "shower" for a couple that are due in a month and we just wanted to get together and wish them well. I guess a couple people brought a few little things but it wasn't about the gifts.

We had a grandma "shower" for a neighbor because she was so excited to be having her first grandchild. We called it a shower but it was just a chance to get together. I gave her my favorite kid's book to have at her house but there were not major presents.

Neither of these parties were given by the people themselves and both were just because we all liked them and wanted to celebrate the babies.

Don't assume all grandma showers are gift grabbers.

This is a good explanation. I know for me when I hear the word "shower" I automatically think gift registry etc. Not that I don't think it is a celebration because I do but usually you are there to "shower" the guest of honor with presents/needs. I wouldn't consider going out to lunch with friends and a few grandma gifts a shower so I suppose it is all in the interpretation. Funny how one word can change the whole conotation of the same event.

 

[Jcricket Fan]

25 yrs. ago when my mom became a grandma her co-workers gave her a surprise party (shower) to celebrate the new grandchild (mom's first) They knew how excited she was and wanted to share her joy.

If I remember no big gifts like strollers but small little items some baby clothes, bottles, a stuffed animal. They had some punch & cake. This was done at her office during lunch time. Everyone had a great time no one was hit up for cash or gifts people could come if they wanted to just to share the joy.

I know mom was so touched by this as my brother lived out of state and mom would not be getting to see the baby much and this was a great treat.

A gift grab no way. A group of caring people who wanted to share some joy.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Really, if you go out to lunch with your best friends and they give you some gifts to celebrate your first grandchild you think it is tacky??? I don't think there is anything wrong with this at all. Now, if they had a party and invited other people expecting gifts, yes, tacky but some friends that have been friends for over 40 years giving a gift to a new grandma, nothing wrong at all with this.

Yes, I do, because I HATE my MIL and she is not going to use my child to benefit herself, besides as long as she smokes, she won't get to see her grandchild anyway. I really heat her that much. Besides I don't think my MIL has any friends, probably because she lied to all of them, as she does us.


My mother will probably the only grandparent my child would know anyway and her friends would give the gift to the baby not my mom. That is just the kinda people they are, besides my mom lives with us anyway and wouldn't need other items.

Suzanne

 

[Bumpy Grumpy]

My coworkers surprised me with a grandbaby shower (lunch hour) over fourteen years ago. I don't remember what was given but the gifts were more gag related. Silly little things like a pamper, a bib, asperin, etc. It was a great gesture and I really appreciated the caring and the fun.

Arlene