I love going to baby showers. It is a time of memories, where good friends get together to encourage and support the lovely mother to be. There is nothing like making a young mother feel uplifted by having everyone try to guess how big she is with pieces of string. Nor to give her the feeling of confidence that she too can get through the birth of her long awaited child by listening to her friends tell how they labored for 16 hours, had to have stitches from here to there, and how un-ladylike they became when told to stop pushing and just pant. Yep, baby showers are fun!
What I really could have used was a toddler shower, a grade school shower, and a preteen shower. Im sure Ill need a teenager shower. After the baby shower you are pretty much left to your own devices until your 50th wedding anniversary party, at which point you no longer care how your kids were raised, youre just thankful that they are and they at least have the capacities to have thrown the shin dig in the first place.
Each new shower would once again gather all your closest friends and family around you. Once again your well-meaning comrades could measure your girth.
I dont know Shirley, do you think shes three inches bigger or four?
Appropriate gifts are lavished upon you, bottles of aspirin, already bald cats, and stain remover. Each age appropriate handbook would be highly praised, such as Potty Training in 365 Days, How to Give Your Picky Eater Good Nutrition with Just Peanut Butter, Candy and French Fries, and last but not least, The Parents Guide to Defusing Your Explosive Pre-Teen After You Tried to H-E-L-P.
Then again, where would be the adventure if raising our children could be scripted? I have loved getting to know my children through their idiosyncrasies. I wouldnt have grown as a mother if everything had been all spelled out for me. Im not necessarily a better mother, just one that has learned to love the journey of parenting.
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Apr. 20, 2006
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Untitled Comment
Apr. 21, 2006
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Great idea!
