My friend Carol is awesome. Funny, smart, warm, she's got a record number of genuinely close friends from all over the place. A native of St. Paul, she's managed to attract a shocking number of visitors to the Twin Cities in the winter. That's how well-liked she is. (Plus, as an employee of General Mills, she has a direct line on free Boo Berry.)
She's also kind of crazy.
She's pregnant right now, expecting in January. And she wants to have a coed destination baby shower in either Las Vegas or Miami two months before the birth of her child.
I've never been to a baby shower. But my image of them has always been supremely serene: a 7-months pregnant mom-to-be, smiling beatifically, surrounded by Mom, sister, best friends, and neighbors, all of them oohing and aahing as carefully wrapped presents are carefully unwrapped.
"Oooh, a blanket," as she pulls it to her heaving bosom.
"Oooh, a mobile," as she holds it up above her impossibly rosy cheeks.
"Oooh, mom, look! It's a Teddy!" as her limpid eyes fill with tears of joy. (A Teddy bear. The other kind of Teddy is at Bridal Showers, right?)
Visually it's all very gauzy. The feeling is warm, as warm as a big bowl of estrogen soup.
Basically the opposite of Vegas. (A bridal shower makes sense in Vegas, right? Women shrieking as the bride tears open her fourth vibrator, brandishing it like a savage. At least that's what I've heard.)
If Carol's plan goes through and I end up in Vegas or Miami, I need your help. Please be constructive: What do these sites have to offer in terms of a baby shower? Can you suggest activities? Is a pregnant belly especially good for body shots in Vegas?
If we end up in Miami, should we hire a Latin dance band for the party? (The Miami Sonogram Machine?)
Or should there be an intervention? Should Carol's friends mandate a St. Paul baby shower? (Be nice. Her mom reads this blog.)
Mo Rocca has appeared on a bunch of shows, including 'The Daily Show,' 'I Love the 80s,'...
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Destination Baby Showers: A Hot New Trend?
Posted Sep 3rd 2007 5:56PM by Mo Rocca
Filed under: Mo Rocca, baby showers
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Reader Comments ( Page 3 of 3)
31. I hope that your friends' mom and mom-in-law have pointed out to her that it is extremely unattractve for ANYONE to state their wants or needs for a party in their own honor.
Showers are traditionally proposed and hosted by a dear friend or group of friends of the honoree. NOT their sisters, sis-inn-laws, mothers, etc. The honoree's job is to act surprised and touched, provide a modest guest list when pushed to do so, show up, be appreciative, and send thank-you notes. Registering for gifts is (ugh) considered the norm, but really, that's tacky too.
Why not just call up everyone you know and ask them to send you fistfulls of cash so you can spend it on the trip you want before the baby shows up?
fivestartt at 12:36PM on Sep 4th 2007
32. Baby showers serve as the jump off point for every mother to share her own special birthing story. This can be boring and icky at the same time. They are simply no place for a man.
elizabunny at 12:36PM on Sep 4th 2007
33. Men should not allow themselves to be dragged into baby showers. Unless it's a curiosity thing, like how I want to know what it feels like to be kicked in the balls. (It just might be more comfortable than a baby shower.)
Dunkly at 1:34PM on Sep 4th 2007
34. I agree that a destination party- while i am sure it would be fun - may be a bit expensive and thus poorly attended. A better idea is tohave the regular local shower, and have the guests pitch in $20 or so each and book a romantic getaway for Carol and her beau (in vegas or elsewhere) planned for a little while after the baby has arrived. Im sure they would both appreciate some baby-free time. Arrange for some shared babysitting with the new grandparents also.
That way they get their trip and the guests get their chance to participate in the baby shower activities.
Sassyandi at 2:13PM on Sep 4th 2007
35. I'm very traditional. Keep the shower in St Paul so that local friends can attend and celebrate the baby with mom and dad. I think just the parents should go on vacation to the destination of their choice - their last chance for just the two of them for a long time.
Flying so late in pregnancy isn't the greatest idea anyway.
Mommyland at 2:18PM on Sep 4th 2007
36. Also- on the whole "should men have to go?" question- i think the only reason it is known as an "ooh and ahh" cutesie fest is because women have predominantly been the party goers. I have been to a few family showers where it is more like a reunion- the are guys and gals, it is a ton of fun- not the pink frill party- although there will always be that one girl who wants it to be. they can easily be overcome by mob mentality. Afterall, it is a celebration of the life to come, not to be dreaded or feared. dont go if you dont want to, but the more people who show up, the more fun it will be. there is an excellent chance that Carol -like many moms to be- doesnt want it to be the goo goo ga ga setting, and thats why she wanted to change the location and feel of the party. i would go, expecting a good time, and very little frills.
Sassyandi at 2:27PM on Sep 4th 2007
37. "Registering for gifts is (ugh) considered the norm, but really, that's tacky too."
It was Bill Mahr that called gift registration "the white people's version of looting." Back in the day, showers of all sorts were given because the young couple did not have the resources to start a household, or have a baby, and it was a community's way of helping. Now it's all about a party--an expensive one for the guests. Hmmmm.
ciocia at 4:14PM on Sep 4th 2007
38. Good for her! I hope Carol has a good pregnancy and safe delivery. Destination anything is becoming overrated - I say stay home and be with friends and family! Traveling is stressful as it is. I was ready to scream and cry when I was traveling a few weeks ago, and I'm 22 and not even pregnant!
I like the idea of bringing Vegas or Miami to her. You could have casino games and instead of playing for cash, everyone could play for their favorite charity (or if that's not possible, the winners get some small yet neat little prizes).
She could get spa people to come to the party and give facials, manicures, and pedicures to whoever wants one. How many baby showers have you been to that do that?
For the gift portion of the shower, instead of just picking out gifts at random, everyone could write their name on a piece of paper and put all of them in a basket, and the name that Carol picks out of the basket is the next gift she'll open. And then when all the names have been picked, there should be one big special surprise gift that wasn't put into the basket.
The food served could have a destination theme, too! Catered food or food served buffet-style could all be cuisine from a particular city. But avoid anything with fish in it - the mercury levels present in fish aren't good for Mommy and Baby.
And I like the idea of something artistic, like belly art. There's also the belly cast. That's where you get paper mache and you make a cast of the baby bump.
A touch of memories might be nice, too. For example, everyone could bring a baby picture of themselves and talk about their earliest or fondest memories of childhood.
And if the shower is as fun as Carol is, she/her friends might want to invest in a videographer or photographer. If you're on a budget, I highly recommend calling the local college/university film and photography programs in your area. Students work for less, because they want to build their portfolio. If you mention that Mo Rocca is going to be there, you might find that some students are willing to work for free :)
Best of luck to Carol and her family!
Marta R. at 11:06AM on Sep 5th 2007