Democracy Dies in Darkness

Carolyn Hax: Expecting a girl this time, couple goes over the top celebrating

Letter writer is bothered that wealthy relatives, for their third baby but first girl, are throwing themselves a baby shower.

3 min
(Illustration by Nick Galifianakis/For The Washington Post)
Column by

Adapted from an online discussion.

Dear Carolyn: My wife has a cousin “Jane” who is pregnant with her third child. Jane and her husband have two boys, and this pregnancy is to be their first girl.

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Jane and her family are OBSESSED with having a girl. They were outwardly disturbed that their first two kids were boys. They just sent the entire extended family a baby shower invite exclaiming “It’s a girl!” and included a gift registry.

What readers are saying

The comments largely criticize the idea of hosting a baby shower with a gift registry for a third child, especially when the family is well-off. Many find it tacky and a breach of etiquette, particularly if the parents are hosting it themselves. There is concern about the... Show more
This summary is AI-generated. AI can make mistakes and this summary is not a replacement for reading the comments.
By
Carolyn Hax started her Washington Post advice column in 1997, after five years on the Style desk and none as a therapist. The column includes cartoons by "relationship cartoonist" Nick Galifianakis — Carolyn's ex-husband — and appears in dozens of newspapers.
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