I was just invited to my neighbor's daughter-in-law's baby shower. Ummm, I haven't even met the daughter-in-law. Not that I'm really opposed to going to a baby shower, but I haven't even MET her! The neighbor is putting on the shower for her daughter-in-law.
My thought is to get a small gift for this person I've never met and take it over before the shower and not attend. It seems like it's a family baby shower, and since I don't know anyone but my neighbor, I'd feel really out of place.
So what is the protocol for going to baby showers where you don't know the guest of honor or any of the guests but the host?
7 comments:
I'd say, "I'm sorry I can't make it." If you want to give a small gift, feel free. I might not depending on how well I know the neighbor. I'd be more inclined to give the neighbor a "grandma" gift like a grandma's brag book album or something.
Weird indeed. I would send my regrets. Maybe give a pack of diapers.
Yeah, I would get something small, and sent it over but not attend. crap like that really makes my blood boil. I think it's incredibly tacky to invite anyone and everyone to a baby or bridal shower(or birthday party) because it makes it so obvious that it is all about getting gifts. blech! tackiness!
Yeah, small gift. I can't NOT do anything, even if it's for someone I don't know.
I somehow missed this blog. But I do have a comment! Let me tell you what my stepmother did for my baby shower! My cousin Julie gave me a shower in NC at my church up there. It was a small family shower, as well as a blurb in the church bulletin letting people know about it. My stepmother sent out her OWN invitations to all of HER friends and family to a shower she wasn't even giving! And lots of these people were people I have never met!!! I was SO FURIOUS and embarrassed. It looked like I was asking for gifts from these people. I was mortified. I have a feeling this is exactly what happened in your neighbor's case. The mother to be will most likely feel like I did and be embarrassed that you got an invitation. Some of the people did send gifts. I felt so horrible when they did. I sent very long and thankful thank you cards back to them. It was the least I could do for strangers who sent me gifts....
Gotta love step mothers and in-laws!!!!
ooops forgot to subscribe to follow up comments. done!
LA, I can imagine how embarrassed you must have been. Shame on your stepmother for not telling you that all of these extra people were invited. I know she had the best of intentions, but it truly does put you in an awkward position.
I feel for the mother-to-be. She didn't invite me. And I don't want to "crash" her party. Forever I will be known as the chick who she didn't know that showed up and brought her screaming kid. Let's just minimize the awkwardness for everyone and not show up. But at the same time, I don't want to ignore my neighbor. I enclosed a long note with the gift as a way of explanation for the gift.
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