I understand there was a time when men would never dare to go near a baby shower. I believe those same men didn't know the difference between a diaper and a dish towel. I have seen them in black and white movies anxiously pacing the floor of the hospital waiting room while heartily sucking on a cigarette. Those were the good old days. According to my eighty-seven year old father anyway!

By the time I had my first child in 1978 things had changed a bit. Baby showers were still for women but the father would make a grand appearance towards the end. I believe this was his opportunity to strut like a rooster allowing all the ladies to cluck and squawk at such a fine specimen of manhood. Forget that the poor mother-to-be had just gone through months of morning sickness, weight gain and would never again be known for her perky parts if you know what I mean. At least by this time in history men knew enough to be a part of the birth and show up for diaper changing, feedings and any other shared baby event of the day. Yes, things had definitely improved.

Years later when I was preparing for the birth of two of my grandchildren due just one day apart, I decided it would be a wonderful idea to go coed. Not only because this seemed to be the theme of the day but because I loved my son-in-law and son and couldn't imagine this gala affair without the two of them present with their baby-bellied wives. Ok, that's a lie. I saw this as a perfect opportunity to get a little revenge for all those teen dating years those two boys had put me through.

The first thing decided on was the theme. Since we were having a baby boy and a baby girl we went with a Luau and did everything accordingly for the Wild Wahini and Big Kahuna. We not only had the best Hawaiian decorations, food and music all outdoors, we also had a bubble machine to emphasize Don Ho's crooning of Tiny Bubbles.

We invited friends and family from near and far. With this kind of a shindig what guy wouldn't want to show up? Did I mention the free food and beer?

Speaking of beer, we decided in fairness for all the years women had to endure these get-togethers that the men should be the ones playing the shower games this time. As luck would have it this turned out to be some of the best entertainment we had seen in quite awhile. Do you have any idea how hard you can laugh when you are watching six men try to be the first to suck a beer-filled baby bottle dry? I dare say a woman would have never thought of cheating by chewing the nipple off or shoving her neighbor.

Another interesting if not altogether amusing activity was to watch these big burly men trying to be the first to change baby dolls diapers. Did you know you can use all sorts of melted food items to fill a diaper and it can look quite realistic? Did you also know big burly men seem to have a remarkable gag reflex?

In all truth, I am sure there were other things most of the men at that shower would have rather been doing that day. However I draw the line when it comes to spitting, bodily noises and shooting things.

Learn more about this author, Marla Hansen.
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