While pregnancy is a joy to be celebrated, it can bring about a lot of overwhelming emotions and decisions. The mother’s body alone changes in more ways than you can imagine – hormones have a say in nearly every part of the body, after all. But the couple and family also have to determine together how they want to raise the child – both as a biological dependent, as an individual. And with those responsibilities come an absolute avalanche of choices to make together.
When couples are giving birth, especially for the first time, there is often intense pressure coming from many sources. Financial pressure for one parent or both to provide for their new family, career pressure for mom (or dad) to go back to work, maternal pressure to perform and nurture as a mother, paternal pressure to provide as a father, and marital pressure to continue juggling their other commitments while a new baby is yet another giant ball thrown into the mix. (Not to mention the intensity our bodies undergo when doing all of this while running on little sleep and fewer windows for self care and stress management.)
It’s no wonder parenthood is often associated with stress!
That’s why it’s important to relish the joy that all of the planning and logistical gymnastics are supporting: the life of your incoming son or daughter. Gender reveals allow the couple to express what are very likely overwhelming emotions, within the circle of their close friends and family members.
Parenthood will come with its challenges and adjustments, to be sure. And yes, it’s very easy to get caught up in doctor visits, prenatal courses, books, Amazon lists and baby shower gifts. But gender reveal parties are a sweet way to step back and remember to celebrate each other, the miracle of your pregnancy, and the life of your soon-to-be son or daughter. And what better way to do all of this than by gathering all of your closest friends and family for an intimate party in your home.
So the long-term benefits of taking intentional time to look up from the chaotic logistics – even if only for a few hours in your backyard – and relish the gift we have in those we call our loved ones cannot be overstated. It’s the children you love (if you already have some) more than you can put into words; your spouse who you somehow fall more in love with every day; the friends who’ve cried with you, laughed with you, cheered you on, and snapped you out of it; the relatives who drive you crazy, and yet love you fiercely. A gender reveal celebrates all of them, too.
In the end, beyond the cute pink and blue donut walls, bowls of candy, fun party favors, and wacky baby-themed games, it’s a much-needed repositioning of priority.
It’s an opportunity for mom and dad to face each other, and say with all earnest, “We get to do this,” rather than, “We have to do this.”
Pinterest boards and search engines are great, but keeping true to the core reasons you plan the parties, trips, celebrations, and gatherings like these has a way of melting the stress of the details away.
If you’re determined to throw a successful gender reveal, but you’re not sure where to start, look no further than Gender Reveal Celebrations. It’s married co-founders established this company to provide everything you need to throw a great party for your unborn guest of honor. From gender reveal ideas, to product lines of every variety, you’ll feel like you have all the expert help you need.
The recipe for a successful gender reveal is simpler than you think: creativity, perspective, a bit of planning ahead, an intimate guest list, and lots of love.
Gender reveals are often depicted as that which revolves solely around the new little one – which, in a way, they are. But when it’s also heralded as a chance for the parents to reconnect as teammates stepping into this new life chapter together, its meaning becomes much deeper. Celebrate your newest member of the family, of course. But remember to continue to celebrate one another as well.
We ask that every contributor and expert answer the Identity “Get All A’s” questions in keeping with our theme.
Their answers can be random and in the moment or they can be aligned with the current article they have written.
In that way, and as a team, we hope to encourage and motivate each other, thus inspiring you to Get All A’s.
1. What have you accepted within your life, physically and/or mentally? Additionally, what are you still working on accepting? Now, we’re talking about resignation, rather than stepping into, embraced, and owned.
We’ve accepted all of your stories, tips, and expertise over the years. We accept all that comes with the challenges of running an online magazine. We embrace the variety of content and thank you for sharing with us!
2. What have you learned to appreciate about yourself and/or within your life, physically and mentally? On the other hand OR in contrast, are there elements of who you are that you’re still working on appreciating?
We appreciate all of our readers, writers, and collaborators. Without all of you, we wouldn’t exist today. Thank YOU!
3. What is one of your most rewarding achievements in life? Tell us not only what makes YOU most proud but also share the goals and dreams that you still have.
We are proud of Identity Magazine and the content we get to publish.
Photo by Melvin Thambi on Unsplash
