Overachievers Hit A New High

Okay, so you all know I hate those overachieving Moms who make us normal (tired and barely functioning) Moms look bad, right? Well, I've found a whole new branch of over achieving mom-ness this week: The expecting over achieving Mom.

Now, if you've ever been pregnant (especially in the last few years), you know that there are lots of things you can make a fuss over. From conception, to outing your pregnancy to baby gear and shower dates. Apparently, the OAM's in the world got together, had some hand made scones and fresh brewed chamomile tea, and decided to micromanage these womanly functions as well. Now there are picture cards to announce your pregnancy, gender reveal parties to announce your baby's penis or lack of a penis, (Okay, totally guilty of that one. But in my defense it was an excellent excuse to have a party, eat a lot of food, and get together with friends and family.) and themed baby showers.

Let me repeat that. THEMED baby showers. Apparently having a party for your unborn lovely in order to score free baby swag from your friends and family wasn't enough, now it has to have meaning. There has to be a theme of some sort and apparently it has to involve crafts, backyard barbecues, or onesie decorating.

Now, the original article that set me off on this tangent popped up in my Facebook feed from a site I follow called "What To Expect". I went online to their site to try and find THAT original article to post a link for all my disbelieving readers, or maybe the ones who are slightly amused on my behalf, and alas, could not find it. I did, however, find a plethora (I love that word, don't you?) of other related articles. Now I'm even more incredulous.

Not only are there themes for showers but there are ideas for cookie decorations (Sugar spindles? I tried to follow this description but without a picture my pregnancy brain just couldn't follow.) and even what to do for a boy shower when you don't want that old over used blue theme. (Try a celestial theme....really? Because stars and planets make me think of newborn babies? Um, ok.)

Probably the best article I found was "10 Budget Baby Shower Ideas For Girls". Now, I have no problem with the theme at all. I love budget friendly anything. But then this was the picture shown along side the article:

Budget friendly cupcakes? Mmm hmm.

Yeah, those look budget friendly, not to mention super easy making what looks like a perfect fondant flower to decorate each one. Aside from that, a few ideas were really cute. Using baby blankets for table cloths, using Mom advice for an ice breaker, and making it dessert themed. (Heck, you could make anything dessert themed and I'd be thrilled.)

Some things though, just struck me as less budget friendly. Like this one: Use your own cups and dishes instead of buying paper products. Okay, good, yup. Then it proceeds with: "One idea is to serve punch, champagne or cocktails in your stem ware. Then, tie a pretty pink ribbon around the base of each glass. Any ribbon will do from light pink to gingham and they don't all have to match." Okay, first of all, I can get behind using my own Corelle plates and cups, but busting out my special, potentially breakable stem ware? I'd rather splurge on the paper products. Not to mention that I have big issues with alcohol being served at a baby shower for cripes sake. Is the idea of my gestating so appalling that you can't get through two hours with me without some sort of libation? Also, isn't alcohol expensive? (Unless you're serving Gennessee beer in a punch bowl?) And who happens to have ribbons just lying around? So, isn't this really just another expense? Here's an idea. Go to the dollar store, buy pink paper products and then go to Walmart and buy a five or six 2 liters of their awesome Dr. Thunder or Lemon Lime drink or whatever the Sam's club generic is. It's all soda and it's under $1. Bam!

Another one I had a problem with, and this very well could just be a "me" thing, was the substitution of a baby sitting certificate for a baby gift. Now, don't get me wrong, the idea is fabulous. New parents need some time to recoup with a nap or some adult conversation now and again. But honestly, I'm less inclined to hand my baby over to anyone outside my trusted three: Husband, parents, and best friend (and even then I might have to screen you before I feel comfortable leaving my progeny with you). I know you're my sister/aunt/cousin/brother/uncle twice removed, but I'm worried about your capability to handle my fussy newborn when you have a "Let them cry for 10 minutes before picking them up policy". Or when you think that kissing brand new babies on their mouths, possibly transferring germs they haven't had an opportunity to build immunity to yet, is an acceptable practice. And if the baby is breast fed and Mom doesn't want to have to pump for three days just to have an hour's supply of milk to go out and make sure there's still a world beyond her home, it's definitely not looking worth the effort. 

I'm not saying you have to get a gift. Come, eat, laugh at how fat I am or how I'm resembling a penguin because I waddle. If you want cheap gift ideas, get a $3 package of baby wipes. Or go to the dollar store and buy hand towels we can use as burp cloths. We will be eternally grateful that we have either thing at 3 AM when we're bleary eyed and trying to calm a crying newborn.