How fascinating that so many of us have felt unprepared when asked to sputter life wisdom, baby blessings, and parenting advice at spiritual baby showers. Let’s help each other with good material! Send your suggestions in! Here are a few of my favorites to get you started.

“Sleep when the baby sleeps.” That’s an old chestnut, as too many new parents try to get chores done during the baby’s naps, but then become exhausted when the baby’s awake and needy again.

“It’s NEVER teething.” That’s a line of my own design. I used to carry my feverish babies around, thinking they were teething, when in fact they had a virus or an ear infection.

“All will go well if you don’t buy a Game Boy.” I’d like to tie that one to a kite and fly it.

On a more spiritual note, there’s always Kahlil Gibran’s great passage: “Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.”

The end of that long passage is less well known, and shower guests would be glad you dug it out: “You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth… Let your bending in the archer’s hand be for gladness.”

My mother read this lovely baby poem at my firstborn son’s baby naming, and I treasure the home movie we have of her reading it.

What about you? What are some of the greatest tips and thoughts you’ve gotten or gained?