Mother Blessing vs. Baby Shower

[jannamo]

I just started reading about the idea of the Mother Blessing in lieu of a traditional baby shower, and I'm really liking some things about the idea.

Things I like:

-Having some kind of ritual to celebrate my passage into motherhood (this feels like one of the most important things that's ever happened to me and it's weird how normal it is)

-No cupcakes

-No or at least fewer baby gifts (I'm gathering hand-me-downs from friends and I just don't think I'll need much else)

-I like the ideas of henna-ing my belly, and some sort of symbol of the women in my life supporting me through labor (give them each a candle to light during labor, or have them each make a bead for a necklace for me)

Things I'm worried about:

-Some of my friends and family are pretty mainstream types who are expecting a baby shower, it may be a little to woo-woo for them

-Am I really OK with no baby gifts? (I think so, but...)

Have others thought about doing a mother blessing or something like it?  What do you plan to do?

[RosieL]

Originally Posted by jannamo 

(this feels like one of the most important things that's ever happened to me and it's weird how normal it is)

I think this so often. 

I don't know about the rest. I literally hurt several people's feelings when I expressed that maybe I wouldn't have a shower, including MIL, mom, and a few friends. They really wanted to have a baby shower. So my compromise was to have...three. I want them small and intimate where we can exchange stories and really talk about the transition to motherhood. Not the same as a mother blessing, but kinda along those lines. Thankfully momma and MIL agreed!

[Dandy Lion]

I recently attended a mother's blessing, and I loved it. I'm not sure how my family would feel about it though because they're really mainstream. I still have a garage full of crap I got for wedding showers that we've been meaning to get rid of. I don't want to accumulate more worthless stuff!

[treehugginhippie]

Why not do both? Baby shower first for mainstream crowd then mother blessing for the rest  :)

[RachaelsMommy]

I would rather have a mother blessing (not that I'm expecting to get any kind of shower), but I don't know who would host it. My family is pretty mainstream. I know if I have a shower, I'm just going to end up with a bunch of stuff I'll never use. I don't use bottles or pacifiers, or chemical laden baby wash and lotion. Plus I cloth diaper, so that rules out a diaper shower, which around here is what they traditionally do when it's not your first. But I guess at least it would be a good time, I'd get to eat cake and hopefully get some cute clothes and then donate the stuff I'll never use.

[hartfelt]

with my first, i had a baby shower and a mother blessing. it was awesome. my mom and sister did the baby shower for all of my extended family and hometown friends. then all of my close girlfriends gave me a mother blessing. they were both great. i got things like a pack-n-play, clothes, cloth diapers etc. at the shower and did a birthing necklace, belly cast and shared birth stories at the mama blessing. they were both equally awesome and everyoone wasw happy. have fun!!

[cameragirl]

I'd kind of like both, but I think we're going to go with a low-key shower. Keeping it smallish means I can avoid inviting the nutters that will make me have a panic attack. Aside from that, they think "it is SO tacky to have a second shower," even though they've had no kids of their own. I won't miss them.

Last time DH and I did the cast together. I think I was just shy of 38 weeks when we did it.

[Janel47]

Normal type shower here probably, although likely not until after the baby comes.  There's definitely no rule about having a baby shower only with your first... EVERY baby gets a shower around here.  Maybe it's partly due to the materialistic culture (because so many people just get everything again... brand new gear for each baby? why????)  but I'm not complaining this time since we got rid of nearly everything and some important things like a good breastpump and car seat are too costly for our budget.  As much as I like the idea of a mother blessing in theory, I think I would be way uncomfortable actually having one... I don't want people touching me or paying too much attention to me.  LOL!  A normal shower lets the focus be on socializing and I'm much more comfortable with that personally.  I'd like to attend a mother blessing though... they sound amazing if it wasn't me at the center of everyone!  ;)