A Baby Shower for Grandma?

It's a milestone moment, and some think it deserves its own party.

- by KATE STONE LOMBARDI

Recently someone mentioned the idea of a “grandma shower” to me. I loved giving bubble baths to my granddaughter, but if there was a trick to making showering fun, I was all in.

It turns out that a grandma shower is not a new way to clean your grandchild but a party—like a baby shower, but for a first-time expectant grandmother.

Initially my reaction was skepticism, mixed with embarrassment for my generation. We Boomer and Gen X grandparents have a bad reputation, not wholly unearned, for putting ourselves at the center of everything. A new baby? This must be all about me! It also seemed like a gift grab. But the more I learned about this trend, the more I started to see its potential value.

There are plenty of reasons to celebrate a new grandbaby, but also some potential pitfalls. On the plus side, this is an exciting rite of passage. “Becoming a grandparent is a milestone. Many have been looking forward to it for years and years, so it is something to celebrate,” says Amy Goyer, a family and caregiving expert for AARP.

With declining birth rates and women delaying childbirth, the average age of first-time grandparents in the U.S. is rising. More than a few of my friends have fretted that by the time they finally have a grandchild to sit down and play with, they won't be able to get back up.