It has been many years since attendance at a baby shower has loomed in my future.
But it appears that around the Easter weekend, there may or may not be a shower of some sort to welcome a tiny newcomer. And there is a tentative invitation to attend if the shower proceeds.
Immediately I began thinking about possible gifts and trips to the baby sections of local shops and markets. Housemate, I figured, would likely come along to squeeze all the toys that squeaked and squawked and to shake whatever rattles were displayed on the shelves. I know one establishment that offers a variety of baby-related items that could be suitably engraved to mark the date and time of the momentous arrival.
But alas, it seems this shower that may or may not happen, will be dominated by diapers, it being referred to as a “diaper shower.” A what? A diaper shower, the message read.
A back and forth with the grandma-to-be indicated that Google would be the best source for finding out all about a diaper shower. And so the research began in anticipation of this possible Easter weekend event.
It seems the idea for this kind of party was originally “for the guys” and the event would include beer and a barbecue with each guest showing up with a box of disposable diapers, any size, for the dad. There would be not specific shower games but it is likely there might be some touch football, some tall tales and other things guys do when they gather.
Then the idea was advanced so that the gathering would be similar in nature to showers of old, where the ladies were the predominant attendees, although it is possible the guys might still be outside or in another room.
One of the drawing cards for a women’s event is a diaper raffle shower. If I bring one box of diapers I would receive one ticket for a draw on a major prize. Two boxes would get me two tickets and so on and so on. The prize is not listed but it had better be worthwhile for a quick check of on-line prices has a range of $18.99 to $89.99, depending on the brand, size and configuration of the purchase.
Those dreaded games are still a part of diaper showers for the ladies. Some architectural and engineering skills will be required for one of them: building a throne from boxes of diapers upon which the mom will sit for the duration of the party. Hopefully the baby will be safely tucked away in a cradle or bassinet just in case the throne should topple.
Then there is the diapering the doll race and notes to be written on diapers so parents will feel loved at midnight when they read the messages from their friends and relatives.
And finally, there is a game in which melted candy bars are placed in a diaper, perhaps as a signal of something that all parents will face for a couple of years in the future. I could not bear to do further research on this particular game.
For crafty persons, there could be contests in construction of diaper cakes, diaper bouquets and diaper wreaths.
It appears that while new parents would certainly welcome gifts of diapers in all sizes, storage might be a problem if the family lives in an apartment or smaller house. In that case, would gift cards for diapers be a suitable substitution?
Even though “diaper showers” are considered the new with-it social gathering, I rather like the idea of showing up with something the babe might actually keep for longer than a few hours, once his or her business has been completed.
I’m pondering a box of personalized bibs, some rattles, an engraved spoon, a squeaky toy — gifts that might get me escorted out by security. But at least Housemate would have fun rattling the rattles and making the toys squeak before the fact.
Joyce Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.
