Miss Manners: who can throw a shower?

[cereta]

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My niece has asked me for ideas for a baby shower she wants to give for her expecting daughter. I don't know how to respond without hurting her feelings. How can I gently tell her it's not proper for a mother to give a shower for her own daughter?

GENTLE READER: When you find out, please tell Miss Manners. She has been pointing this out for years, and it doesn't seem to help.

Comments

[deird1]

She should try Australia. She'd be horrified: we throw birthday parties (and baby showers) for ourselves. (Our parties are never very present-heavy, and we tend to see the birthday-person as being obliged to shout* their friends a party to enjoy, to make up for all the parties we've been invited to.)


*Australianism: To buy a round (of beer, typically) for everyone present.