Showered With Love… A Surprise Skype Baby Shower!

Posted on June 29, 2015 by Dawn Quyle Landau

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The times they are a changin’, and at fifty-something– with my kids spread all over the planet, this mama has to do what this mama has to do to be part of their lives. So, when my girl announced I’d be a grandmother this summer, my head immediately began spinning all the challenges of sharing this special time with her, when she lives in Israel, and I live on the west coast of the U.S. Not easy! But I don’t walk away from a challenge– especially one that means this much.

Luckily, technology has evolved enormously since I was young, and sending letters to my mother. My girl and I can email whenever we want. We instant message; we text; we enjoy long-distance phone calls that are no longer “long distance,” and we can Skype! I find myself sounding increasingly like my grandmother, in my utter amazement of new’ish things available to us. It still seems like magic that I can Google virtually any question or topic, and have the answer, plus several thousand other options, instantly! It’s beyond magic that I can hit a link and see my girl’s face, and spend real time with her on Skype.

When I realized that I wouldn’t get to have a baby shower for my daughter, it didn’t go down well. It’s bad enough that I have to rely on texts, chats, iMessage, Skype, just to watch her round belly grow, and listen to her as she experiences this huge time in her life, but to not get to Shower her with all the love and excitement that I’m feeling about this baby, was too much to bear. There would be no shower where my girl is, and this grandma-to-be was determined to change that. And so I planned a 21st century solution: a Surprise Skype Baby Shower!

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I told my girl that a mystery friend would be in town on June 28th, and wanted to Skype with her from our home. I made her promise she would be available, but refused to tell her any more. Then I sent out invitations that included her baby registry, and let everyone know that we would be having a real shower: complete with decorations, food, presents, and the mama to be… via my computer screen. Friends and family rallied around the idea and we managed to keep it a total surprise. I had my niece help me with decorating and making food. Having her here was extra special, and let me enjoy planning this with another girl I love. Then, we waited and planned.

The day of the shower we made sure that all of the food was food that our girl could eat: gluten free. We had baby shower balloons, and decorations in gender-neutral colors, as they don’t know the sex of the baby and want to raise their child as gender neutral as possible. There were beautiful flowers, and mimosas to toast her with. We gathered at 10am our time, 8pm her time and I let the ladies all know how we would pull off the surprise. And then I dialed my daughter, on Skype. The room stayed silent as I carried the laptop into the living room, and as I turned the screen around… we all yelled “SURPRISE!”

I didn’t plan well enough to have someone get a photo of her utterly shocked face, as she realized that the room was full of people she loves: friends and family alike. As she lay snuggled up in her pajamas, 7 thousand miles away, her face lit up, as I passed the screen around and it began to register what was happening. What a joyful moment!

We spent 2.5 hours with my daughter, at her virtual baby shower. Each person had the screen when they opened their gift for her, and told my girl what they got for her child and why. Each person got a special moment face to face with her. Each of us shared a piece of advice or some words of love. We ate our food, while she lay with a big bowl of ice cream and we laughed; we cried; we read poems and cards to her; we toasted her, and we all celebrated together the joy of her impending motherhood.

My baby girl- my first, is living far from home, far from so many people who love her, as she prepares to welcome her first baby. So many of those people couldn’t be at this shower, but their love was with us in notes, emails, packages mailed to our home, and a room full of people who wanted to celebrate with her. We let my girl know that no matter how far she goes in the world, no matter how great the distance, our love and joy for her will reach her. We Showered her with love… and she felt it.

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GIPYMake me smile; HELP ME REACH MY GOAL:  I’d love to see the Tales From the Motherland Facebook page reach 800 likes in 2015. I’m nearly there! Have you stopped by to spread some fairy dust? Follow me on Twitter; it’s where I’m forced to be brief.  Most importantly, if you like a post I’ve written, hit Like and leave a comment. I love to hear what readers think. Honest, positive or constructive feedback is always welcome. Click Follow

About Dawn Quyle Landau

Mother, Writer, treasure hunter, aging red head, and sushi lover. This is my view on life, "Straight up, with a twist––" because life is too short to be subtle! Featured blogger for Huffington Post, and followed on Twitter by LeBron James– for reasons beyond my comprehension.
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44 Responses to Showered With Love… A Surprise Skype Baby Shower!

  1. bodhisattvaintraining says:
    June 29, 2015 at 4:14 pm

    what a gorgeous thing to do Dawn xx

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  2. mariner2mother says:
    June 29, 2015 at 4:47 pm

    Simply brilliant! How creative and completely loving of you to do this for your daughter. Awesome idea.

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  4. Patti Imhof says:
    June 29, 2015 at 5:06 pm

    Dawn, what a fabulous, fun way to have a perfect party for your daughter and her baby! I love it!!! xopatti

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  5. becomingcliche says:
    June 29, 2015 at 5:13 pm

    Dawn, how wonderful! Congratulations to BOTH of you!

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  6. Gina says:
    June 29, 2015 at 5:18 pm

    I cried a little as I read this. My daughter blessed me with my first grandchild seven weeks ago. I know that if I had not been able to be with her for her shower, she would have loved to have a virtual one.

    Congratulations, Grandma!

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    • Dawn Quyle Landau says:
      June 29, 2015 at 5:32 pm

      Thanks so much Gina. It’s been SO hard having her so far away for all of this. Her living so far away is hard enough, but more challenging at big times like this. Thanks for your kind wishes; they are much appreciated!

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  7. momshieb says:
    June 29, 2015 at 5:25 pm

    This is wonderful! Congratulations! When is she due?
    My daughter (my firstborn) will be having her first baby in mid August, and I am just beside myself with joy and excitement!

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  8. Carrie Rubin says:
    June 29, 2015 at 5:39 pm

    Fabulous idea, Dawn. What a nice surprise for her. With as much grief as technology can give us, I couldn’t imagine life without it.

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  9. sara says:
    June 29, 2015 at 6:55 pm

    What a gorgeous idea! I’m glad it worked out well. I love how our world is getting smaller.

    Liked by 1 person

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  10. susanissima says:
    June 29, 2015 at 8:28 pm

    How sweet! You are such a darling mama, and I just know you’ll be a Super Gooma! Much love to you and your daughter, Dawn. 3

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  11. Shelley Weisberg says:
    June 29, 2015 at 10:09 pm

    What a great idea, Dawn! Very sweet.

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  12. cyclingrandma says:
    June 30, 2015 at 2:57 am

    How clever of you! I imagine your bags will be full when you travel to Israel next month.
    Welcome to grandma hood– you’ll love it– and I know how hard the distance is. Let me know when you’re in NYC — maybe it will work out to meet up or at least on phone call on the same time zone. hugs…

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    • Dawn Quyle Landau says:
      June 30, 2015 at 8:05 am

      Thanks so much, Lisa! I’ve loved reading all of your grandma posts, for the joy of it! Now, I get to have some of my own. 😉 Of course, it will be a good long while before we’re really doing anything other than snuggling! I’ll be there from late on the 14th until Sunday the 19th and fear there will be little free time at all! The conference, as I recall from last year, consumes so much time! We can exchange phone#, to text… just in case! xox

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  13. Cathy Ulrich says:
    June 30, 2015 at 7:21 am

    What a wonderful surprise, Dawn. I absolutely love it! It is truly a much smaller world these days!

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  14. xsoulxonfirex says:
    June 30, 2015 at 9:18 am

    Proof that love knows no distance. Great idea, and congratulations! xo

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  15. Honie Briggs says:
    June 30, 2015 at 2:26 pm

    A modern mom’s gotta do what a modern mom’s gotta do. If not for face time and text messaging, I’d certainly be out of the loop. What an exciting time for your family!!

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  16. hbksloss says:
    July 1, 2015 at 1:39 am

    Love this idea! The flowers & decorations were lovely and serving food with your daughter’s allergies in mind was brilliant! Bravo for this modern take on a tradition.

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  17. Valery says:
    July 3, 2015 at 1:41 pm

    Wow! Best use of technology yet! There’s nothing like a shower to make the impending arrival suddenly seem so much more real. It’s so awesome that you’ll be there. Starting life surrounded by loving family – that’s such a wonderful gift for baby. I got a little taste of it when my grand-nephew was born 4months ago. Sigh… I do envy your new gramminess! 🙂

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