Special Contributor to Real Mama, Inc.
When my husband and I entered Babies R Us we felt incredibly uneasy. Was it the bright artificial lights? Pre-baby nerves? We soon realized it was the fear of finding storage in our 999 square foot home for the multitude of shower gifts we were about to put on our registry.)
Would we fit it all? How would we know what we needed? How would we navigate the marketing genius of hundreds of companies? Will something we buy be recalled? Then and there, under the bright lights of baby city, we mutually agreed to forgo the shower.
How would we explain our choice? Generous friends and family were all biting at the teether to present us with adorable outfits, baby goodies, and the latest gadgets. At that moment, we were not only giving up stuff, but we were turning our back on tradition.
After a few conversations with my mother, she honored our wish and presented us with a generous cash gift that my parents agreed would have been spent on our baby shower anyway. We used the money to purchase a crib, stroller, car seat, diapers, and then proudly opened baby Ollie’s first savings account.
Other gifts followed. Family, coworkers, and friends knitted beautiful hats, bought their own favorite childhood books and toys, and purchased savings bonds in Ollie’s name. Not having a shower inspired people to discover gifts off the registry. The gifts were small, unique, and thoughtful. We felt showered with love each day we received a package in the mail or a visit.
Forgoing the shower was our gift to the earth, our sanity, and Ollie’s future. So, did we survive not having a shower? Yes because once we realized that having a baby goes beyond the bounty we found peace with our choice.
Today, Ollie is one year old and has discovered an age-old tradition that we whole-heartedly embrace—wildly playing with mommy’s pots and spatula. And, as my husband reminds me, they were not on the registry.
Special Contributor to Real Mama, Inc., Jennifer Schrenk works part-time as the Events & Development Director for Clean Ocean Action. She resides in Long Branch, NJ with her husband Steve and son Oliver.
Tags: alternative shower, baby, earth friendly, reducing stuff, shower gifts, simplify
