Mormon and Childless

I arrived to a sea of twisted blue ribbons plastered on the walls and “It’s a Boy” confetti splashed across a dining table. Extended family members and strangers ate slices of cake and homemade Jell-O salad. The compulsory chorus of “Oh, so cute!” arose after each familiar gift was opened by the glowing mother-to-be, my cousin. This was last November, and I was at my fourth baby shower in three months. So although I was — and remain — childless, I knew Target’s baby department a little too well.

I’m Mormon. Invitations to baby showers come as often as my electric bill, albeit in prettier pastel envelopes. It doesn’t stop at showers, either. I receive requests to attend baptisms, birthdays, and baby holidays that appear to have originated on Pinterest. Because many of my Facebook friends are also Mormon, posts with baby photos and videos of baby firsts fill almost my entire News Feed.