Pregnancies, Baby showers and babies! A non-pregnant perception.
Friday: I rush home from work because I need to go buy a gift for a friend's baby shower on Sunday. I pick up my husband on the way and we are finally at the store. I was completely clueless and inexperienced in this area. They did not have a registry created, so I googled for "the best baby shower gifts for a mom-to-be". Lots of ideas, but none that I liked, none that I felt were good. I did get suggestions from other friends on gifting general stuff like cradles, stroller, cribs etc. It was their first baby and I wanted to give something which they wouldn't have minded getting as a gift.
This made me think, If I were having a baby, my first one, I would
be a control freak, would want to personally pick, choose and buy
everything myself for the baby. Knowing them, and how much thought and
research they would put into anything this important, I did not want to
ruin their experience. I did try to sneakily find out a couple of times
if they decided which brand/model of carseat, crib or stroller they
would like to buy. Either I wasn't being sneaky enough, or they hadn't
made their choice yet, I couldn't get a definitive answer. Giving a gift
card to a baby store would have been best, but the hubby did not like
that idea and said it was too impersonal. Finally after about an hour,
we picked something satisfactory. Hopefully, the parents-to-be will like
it.
Sunday: I wake up and realize I am already late for the event,
because I promised them I would come in an hour early to take care of
last minute stuff. I spent a couple of hours yesterday too, decorating
the space for this event. Quickly, I take a shower and get dressed, or
say half dressed. I am struggling to drape my saree. I have worn a saree
a couple of times before, but each saree is different. We need to
carefully drape it so that its borders and designs stand out. And added
to that, I picked a cotton saree for the day, stiff, yet classy when
draped well. After 20 mins of struggling and sweating, I am finally
ready to step out of the house. My efforts are rewarded as people
compliment my saree and ofcourse I blush modestly.
I didn't have to worry on being late, as the guests hadn't arrived yet.
We do some final touch ups to the decorations and we are done. This baby
shower is mostly an Indian affair. The mom-to-be, with her gorgeous
pregnancy glow, is dressed in a lovely silk saree and sparkling jewelry.
My jaw drops looking at her lovely jewelry, which she happily revealed
was a gift to her from her hubby, on the occasion of the baby shower. I
pull my husband over and mockingly tease him asking for similar gifts.
He thinks I am joking. Am I? So for a while, her jewelry is the center
of attraction.
A small ceremony begins where the mom-to-be is blessed in the Indian
style. Her mom (the grandmother-to-be) slides almost a dozen colorful
bangles on each of her arms. Finally, an aarti is performed and she is
showered with auspicious rice mixed with turmeric. The non-Indian
guests are amused and ask me why all that is being done. Never has
anyone asked me such a question, but now that I am faced with it, I give
them my own explanation which seems logical enough. "The rice is
literally a shower of blessings from all the well wishers, and the
bangles are a symbol of well being and prosperity in their married
life". They seem to like that explanation. Well, I tried!
It's lunch time and the ambience makes me very nostalgic. It reminds me of all the family get togethers back in India. How all the ladies used to gather and have lunch and talk about jewelry, kids, house chores and what not; how all the men gathered outside and had conversations of their own. The last time I was part of such a gathering was during my own wedding about a year ago.
I realize I have been day dreaming about festivities, when a young little girl starts crying because she can't find her mommy. I take her into my arms and try to entertain her while I know her mom is preparing her bottle of milk. She instantly stops crying and is engrossed in whatever toy I show her. Kids and their tiny attention spans! I get compliments too, from my pregnant friend, on how I entertained the little one, and how in a couple of months I can be their baby sitter. I gladly accept the offer.
The event finally comes to an end and we are headed back home. Back to
our routines and meal preps for the week, the last minute laundry
cycles.
What a weekend this was! I am still nostalgic, I am tired, I am sleepy but mostly, I am excited for the parents-to-be!
