I attended something known as a Jack & Jill baby shower yesterday. This is a new concept for me as it seemed to be to many of the Jacks in attendance. My sister, the hostess, helped ease them in by providing a bro cave in her basement.
Upstairs, the ladies enjoyed some baby blue cocktails, salads and sensible food.
Downstairs, the men had a cooler of beer and some hearty dips.
Upstairs, the ladies painted onsies and played a few shower games.
Downstairs, the men watched NCAA basketball on a big screen TV.
Upstairs, the ladies talked about due dates, contractions and cervixes.
Downstairs, the guys talked about home improvement projects and brackets.
Upstairs, the parents to be opened a huge haul of baby gifts.
Downstairs, the men opened a bottle of Atomic Fireball whiskey.
Upstairs, new parents offered advice to the parents to be.
Downstairs, men provided advice on the best way to barbeque wings.
A few women ventured down to the bro cave and stayed. Some wandered down and quickly retreated. Some men, particularly the newly married or new parents, wanted to venture downstairs, but couldn’t. Children seemed to wander freely up and down the stairs.
The Jack & Jill party on two levels seemed to be a glimpse of what awaits the new parents. There will be ups and downs in those first few months. There will be times when they wistfully, sleeplessly remember the freedoms of living before the baby came along. But there will be many more times of their delighting in the room they have chosen.