Couples Baby Shower Honors Both Mom & DadWritten by Randy Wilson
If having a Couples Baby Shower seems odd to you, consider this: Mom-to-be did not get pregnant on her own. Nor will she likely be raising baby on her own. So why should she get to celebrate on her own?Dad-to-be plays a very big role in new baby’s life so he should be a part of baby festivities as well. A couples baby shower (also referred to as coed baby showers) doesn’t just include dad-to-be in honors. It also includes all of other important men in new baby’s life. Grandfathers, uncles, cousins, and even godfathers will be able to join in a couples baby shower as well. Baby showers normally consist of cutesy decorations and silly games. But when you are having a couples baby shower, you will probably want to make a few adjustments. You still want to have baby decorations since it is a celebration of a baby at your couples baby shower. But you might want to refrain from using frilly decorations and lean more towards fun ones. Cutting out baby shower games may be a good idea for coed baby showers. Instead, give male guests some screwdrivers and hammers. Then have them put together gifts such as toys and swings while mom and dad-to-be open presents together. If this sounds a little too stereotypical for you (me man, you woman, grunt, grunt). Then try playing baby shower games that both men and women will enjoy at your couples baby shower. Have a contest to see who can drink a beer (or other carbonated beverage) out of a baby bottle fastest. Set up a large grid ahead of time with dates of month when baby is due. You can have guests write their name on date when they think baby will be born. The host or hostess can be responsible for sending a prize to winner after baby comes. Another good idea for baby shower games for a couples baby shower is Pictionary. Make cards ahead of time with all sorts of baby items on them. Then use them for your home version of popular game. Surely most of your baby shower guests will be able to draw “rattle“.
| | Putting Your Child To BedWritten by Russell Turner
Are you glad for chance to put your child to bed? Is this a great time for you and your kids or is it serious business? Is it a time in your day you look forward to, or do you have to grit your teeth to face struggle? Bedtime is a terrific opportunity for us and our children. Spending just a few minutes with each of our children at bedtime can offer us chance to really connect with them in ways that during day, which is often hectic, it is much more difficult.I love bedtime. Not just expectation of peace and quiet after they’re asleep, but opportunities for meaningful conversations that so often arise. When bedtime rolls around, my kids will do anything to stay up later. A function of this is everything that they said or did that hasn’t come up during day will come out. A lot of times this is when most insightful questions, problems they may be facing, or just funny things that happened to them pop up. This is a great opportunity for me to hear about many important aspects of their lives that I might otherwise miss. It’s also perfect time to discuss these things in a quiet private setting. It gives me chance to do some real parenting. I can take these opportunities to teach them about life, about God’s purpose, and about their purpose. On every birthday my girls try to negotiate a new (later) bedtime. They aren’t always successful but when I’m deciding on a bedtime I always make it a half-hour earlier than they really need to be in bed. Then I tell them they can read for a half-hour before finally turning out light. This accomplishes two goals. They think they’re getting away with something, and more importantly, it allows me time with each of them. I don’t feel rushed, or that I’m keeping them up too late. Some nights we can take up to half of their reading time talking about their day.
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