Anonymous wrote:No games.

Was it the best or worst?

I'm the OP. DH and I love trivia kind of games. Our host threw a couple's shower and organize a baby trivia. Guys vs girls. It was so much fun! My child is almost 4 and when we get together we still talk about it. There were questions like "how many diapers a newborn wets a day" or "how many bones does a newborn have" it was really cool and we all had fun.

Anonymous wrote:Leaving.

I'm sorry about your experience but do you mind sharing why you hated it?

I already asked her what she likes and she threw my shower so I already have an idea about what her preferences are. I'm just trying to come up with something different.

For example I saw a tree made with the fingerprints of all the guests as the leaves, they signed and left a message for the baby. Then mom made a butterfly with the footprints to go with it. She's very crafty so I thought she'd like it.

Thank you all for your responses.

Best: food and cupcakes

Not so best: party games. Ask your guest of honor if she wants games. Some people love them, some don't.

Favorite: My host had a journal out and asked people to write their best bit of parenting advice. I really liked that.

No games.

Had brunch and mimosas for guests (OJ for me )...loved walking around and chatting with folks, munching food. My divorced but very friendly parents stood up and gave a beautiful co-toast. No games, I thanks everyone for their gifts and opened them at home with just family.

Favorite part: we went spa-ing and it was so relaxing and really just a spa day with my friends and relatives. That was the whole afternoon. Then we met up with the guys for dinner and dh and I opened presents there.

Least favorite part: when my aunt tried to tell me it wasn't a real baby shower because there were no games and corny things. My mom shut her down.

Best: Spending a beautiful day outside with my favorite friends and family. Also, the hostesses abided my wishes that there be no "chocolate poop diaper" or "guess that baby food" flavor games.

Worst: Opening gifts...I know you have to, and I know it's the whole purpose of a shower, it just made me feel awkward.

Leaving.

Food!!!!

I don't love the present opening but it's the whole point of the thing.

Anonymous wrote:I loved having friends and family meet each other. I went around the room and introduced everyone and gave a short blurb about how we met or a funny story. It made me happy having everyone finally meet each other. It was also nice just to sit down and have other people get me stuff

Aww, nice mom, lucky baby!

I loved having friends and family meet each other. I went around the room and introduced everyone and gave a short blurb about how we met or a funny story. It made me happy having everyone finally meet each other. It was also nice just to sit down and have other people get me stuff

So. Bluntly...ask your friend what she wants. I am a no games no stupid diaper themed "treats" kind on girl. And I agree opening 30 presents while people stared at me would have been a special kind of torture. But I have friends who would feel they missed a rite of passage if there hadn't been a guess the mothers weight contest or a match the baby to the celebrity poster.

Don't assume you know her preferences either. Really specifically ask her.

Best part: having friends from different parts of my life meet each other and become friends themselves.

Worst: opening presents and watching everyone pretend to be interested. Halfway through I suggested they continue talking and eating, and I just made a point of getting the attention of the particular gift giver and thanking her.

i loved everything about it. i really liked opening my presents in front of everyone - i'm kind of a shy person and it was easier opening stuff for another person than it would normally be for myself.

And the worst?

I'm hosting a shower for a friend and I need ideas...