I was listening to my favorite morning radio show a few weeks ago when a woman called in and went to town on a family because their child, who was 15 and pregnant, wanted a baby shower as she'd decided to keep and raise the baby. The family "had the nerve to throw her a baby shower, like nothing was wrong with that."
I was tempted to call in and go off on her for being such a judgy person who had the audacity to tell the whole world she didn't think this girl — who was about to become a mother and raise her child while going to school at night — "deserved" any kind of shower, but luckily about 100 other angry listeners beat me to it. I'm still on fire about it, though.
No matter your age, gender, or how many kids you already have, if you want a shower, you deserve one.
Maybe tradition says celebrating births by having a party should be reserved for first-time parents who are married and of a certain age, and that these are the only people who qualify being showered with strollers, diapers, and bouncy seats — but if that's still what most people think, I say it's 2019 and time to change that ridiculousness.
Since when did we write the rules about who qualifies to be celebrated? A new life deserves recognition — no matter what — and every expecting mom deserves to feel loved and accepted. I don't care if you've had seven kids, or are going to be a single parent as a teenager — you should have a shower. Call me crazy, but aren't those the people who need the help and support more than any of us?
Sure, showers are about getting items you desperately need because, let's face it, when you're a parent, you constantly need stuff, but it's also a time for the mom-to-be to take a load off, enjoy some nice conversation with people who are close to her, and feel like she matters too.
So, if you're uncomfortable and think the person who invites you to their shower isn't deserving because they've already had a few, they're too young, too old, or too rich, you don't have to go. But please, for the love of god, keep your opinions to yourself.
