Gender reveals and baby showers - yay or nay?

Hey neurospicy parents. What are your views on culturally expected things such as gender reveal parties and baby showers? Is it just me that finds them really cringey? Also, what are your views on finding out the child's gender before they're born? This is a new one to me because with my last two babies I had no interest in finding this out early, but this time round the practical part of me took over and it seemed a sensible plan. After having River in 2020 we kept ALL of her baby stuff as we always planned to have another, so if this one was a girl we would have everything ready to go, whilst if it was a boy we could have a clear out and pass on about 10 bags of frilly pink dresses. 

So the 20wk scan came around and we were able to find out. We had the sonographer write her "educated guess" on a piece of paper and pop it in an envelope, which we then ignored for days whilst trying to decide how to do "The Reveal". As someone who shares a lot of motherhood on my social media, I could have gone all out with a big reveal video with balloons and cake and tears. My partner liked the idea of hiring a venue for a big party with family and friends and a suitably geeky gender reveal cake. But the more we discussed these options, the more it all just made me feel anxious and icky, and I realised I didn't actually want any of it. So what if it's expected? Since when do I do things for that reason alone? We were sat discussing this on new years eve (eating cheese and watching movies like the rock'n'rollers we are these days) and we thought sod it. Let's just open the envelope now. Just us. Right on midnight. 

So that is what we did....and this is what we saw....💙

As for the baby shower? Nope, we aren't doing that either lol. The moral of the story; just because other people are doing something does not mean you have to do it too. Not if you do not want to.

Also...anyone need any pink baby dresses?? 🤣