An Unforgettable Baby “Shower”
Timing and teamwork really do go hand in hand, and nowhere is that more true than when planning a party. This past summer, I was a co-planner for my best friend’s shower. I was supposed to collaborate with her mother, Elaine, but working together was harder than one might think. We couldn’t make up our minds on anything. Elaine had this glamorous image of how the shower should be, with the best of everything and all sorts of fancy accoutrements. Meanwhile, I wanted a down-to-earth, less expensive party. I wanted a personal affair where the mother-to-be, Rebecca, could enjoy herself and socialize with all of her guests. Something quiet and simple at Rebecca’s house would have been perfect, since the house was huge, with a lovely, spacious backyard.
In truth, though, Elaine and I didn’t really argue. I just bit my tongue on most things. After all, how could I fight with my best friend’s mother (especially since she was funding the whole thing!)? One of our greatest sticking points was the time for our event. I was insistent that it should be in the early afternoon/evening. She refused. She said that baby showers are terrible at night. Now, I don’t remember saying at night. I do, however, remember suggesting something that starts in the early afternoon and runs on to like 6 or 7pm. Instead, Elaine decided she was going to do it on a Saturday morning. When I told her that most of Rebecca’s friends worked or had things to do on Saturday mornings, she was still adamant and refused to change her mind. There was nothing I could do.
“Saturday, August 22 at 10 A.M.” is what the invitation read. The party was at Elaine’s choice of restaurant, overlooking the water, on a secluded part of the deck, just like she wanted. I have to admit that the view was breathtaking. It was incredibly beautiful for about an hour – until the clouds began to close in and it started getting dark. By 11am, most of the guests had arrived, but had already started panicking, too. They were all being rained on! It started just pouring down in sheets. Everyone had to grab their belongings and the gifts and hastily tote it all inside the restaurant. As far as I was concerned, I didn’t really mind getting wet. But it was hysterical to see how the people were reacting to being rained on. Rebecca even thought it was funny. She turned to me and said “Whose idea was it to have this party here and why so early?” All I said was that it wasn’t me, because by this time a very wet Elaine had already apologized to me for not going with more of my ideas. Needless to say, just when the party was starting to wind down, around 2pm, the sun started shining again.
Amidst my selfish gloating, I started to think how much better it would have been if we could have just worked together. Party planning doesn’t have to be a battle of wills, but unfortunately, some people live for drama. If you find yourself getting stressed out trying to plan the “perfect” baby shower, remember to relax and enjoy the party planning process. If you have to work together with others to make it happen, then listen to what the members of your team have to say, offer only constructive criticism, and don’t be afraid to speak up if you have good ideas. Welcoming a new baby can be stressful, but planning a baby shower shouldn’t be all that bad!