My good friend’s wife had just delivered their baby boy this morning. I was thinking of a gift and checked out some online baby stores for ideas. Then I stopped short and thought to myself that maybe it’s better for me to give the newborn an ang pow. This is based on my own experience. I would prefer that my baby be showered with ang pows for what they represent – luck.
Having said that, I also enjoyed some of the gifts that we received from friends and family. There were some items that we never thought of buying and we were glad that they complemented what we didn’t already have. I also like the fact that my hospital room was filled with nice bright colours of plush toys for the baby, flowers, and some brilliant baby hampers. It fills the room up with lots of cheer. The only thing about receiving gifts is that you tend to have quite a lot of repetition in things like rompers and baby toiletries just to name a few.
In the end, I guess I don’t really mind receiving a mix of gifts and ang pows as welcoming presents for our newborn. But what about other parents? Do most people prefer well-wishers to bear gifts or ang pows?
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Tough question, but given the rise of living costs, perhaps ang pow is better. We can give presents when the child is old enough to appreciate and enjoy receiving them. Because when too many people give presents at one time and a mother’s concern is adjusting to caring for the baby, she may not pay individual attention to gifts such as who gave them and why. But in later years when the kid becomes more manageable, she can sit back and receive gifts as a personal expression of affection from the giver.
Hi Yvonne. I tend to agree with you that ang pows are more practical most of the time. I think children these days understand things at a much younger age, so it won’t be long before the little one would know who gave him what!