Brother Ignored Boundaries And Tried Proposing, Sister Sent Him A Bill For The Party Costs

Baby showers are and really should be a celebration of a person’s impending childbirth, a time for friends and family to gather and mark this joyous occasion. However, a certain kind of person will look at a gathering like this and think “how can I hijack this attention and direct it onto myself?”

A woman asked if she was wrong to send part of the bill of her baby shower to her brother, after she had to shut down his attempt at proposing in the middle of her event. We reached out to the woman who made the post via private message and will update the article when she gets back to us.

Proposing at an event celebrating someone else is just selfish

Woman wearing cream knitted sweater looking out window, reflecting during her baby shower where brother's proposal was shut down

Image credits: Freepik (not the actual photo)

But that’s exactly what one man was planning to do, before his sister shut him down at her own baby shower

Woman shuts down brother’s proposal at her baby shower during small mixed celebration event.

Text excerpt showing a woman refusing her brother's proposal request at her baby shower, highlighting family event tensions.

Text excerpt from woman explaining she wants to keep baby shower focused on the baby despite brother’s proposal involvement.

Woman at baby shower shuts down brother’s marriage proposal during emotional family toast.

Woman at baby shower firmly shuts down brother’s proposal to keep focus on the baby celebration and special day.

Baby shower table with sandwiches, desserts, fruit, and floral centerpiece in an outdoor setting.

Image credits: fu zhichao/Pexels (not the actual photo)

Woman firmly shuts down brother’s marriage proposal during emotional baby shower gathering.

Alt text: Woman shutting down brother’s proposal at her baby shower during an awkward family moment.

Text excerpt from a family group chat showing a woman discussing consent and shutting down a brother’s proposal at her baby shower.

Text from a woman explaining shutting down her brother’s marriage proposal during her baby shower to keep the focus on the event.

Woman firmly shuts down brother’s proposal at her baby shower, insisting on setting clear boundaries during the event.

Woman at home looking serious while holding a phone, relating to shutting down brother’s proposal at baby shower.

Image credits: George Milton/Pexels (not the actual photo)

Text excerpt showing a woman expressing hurt after her brother ignored a clear boundary at her baby shower.

Text discussing a girlfriend apologizing after learning about a brother’s proposal plan at a baby shower.

Text excerpt about a woman shutting down her brother’s proposal at her baby shower, expressing gratitude and awkwardness.

Text excerpt showing a woman explaining shutting down her brother’s marriage proposal to keep the baby shower focused on the baby.

Alt text: Woman shuts down brother’s proposal at her baby shower, handling the moment with firm boundaries and respect.

Text post about a woman shutting down her brother’s proposal at her baby shower and causing family division.

Image credits: Mysterious-Desk1346

Stealing the spotlight is tacky and rude

Family gathered at a baby shower, woman smiling and holding a glass while sharing a joyful moment with relatives.

Image credits: Nicole Michalou/Pexels (not the actual photo)

There are few more audacious social crimes than showing up at your sister’s baby shower and deciding it’s the ideal location to pop the question. It’s the event-planning version of wearing a wedding dress to someone’s wedding and declaring yourself pregnant. A baby shower should be about toasting sore ankles, baby clothes so small they resemble doll clothes, and a stroller-shaped cake. It is not the time to whip out a ring and tell everyone, “As a matter of fact, today is all about me now.”

Proposing at a baby shower is tacky because it hijacks the attention with the subtlety of a marching band in a library. The woman is actually carrying around a human inside her, and someone somehow feels that isn’t sufficient drama for the day. Rather than the day being marked for sappy presents and tearful advice, it becomes legendary as “the time the baby shower was spontaneously converted into an off-the-cuff engagement bash.” That’s not creating memories, it’s stealing them.

It’s also inexcusably arrogant. Imagine taking all the work that goes into the decorations, the diaper cupcakes, the goofy games where people smell diapers with melted chocolate in them, and saying, “Yes, this is the perfect place for my personal success.” It’s like cutting in front at a parade because you would prefer everyone to cheer for you. No one asked for a rerun, and lo and behold, here you are, waving your engagement ring like the grand finale.

Setting aside the entitlement, a baby shower is a horrible place to propose

Welcome Baby sign and colorful banners hanging on door for baby shower celebration.

Image credits: Kampus Production/Pexels (not the actual photo)

Then there’s the matter of timing. A proposal is supposed to feel romantic and unique, but a baby shower is not exactly fertile ground for romance. You’re surrounded by gift bags full of burp cloths, strangers debating diaper brands, and someone’s aunt talking about the joys of breastfeeding. Nothing says “lifelong commitment” quite like proposing in front of a mountain of onesies and a rubber duck centerpiece.

And to add insult to injury is the manner in which it changes the entire ambiance of the occasion. Suddenly, instead of “oohs” and “aahs” about baby booties, everyone’s gaze is fixed on the sparkling ring and the embracing couple in the background. The expectant woman, who was otherwise feeling like the star of the show, now has to content herself as the supporting actress in her own bash. Her pampering special day turns into a double feature for which she never signed up.

The reality is, there are a million other ways to propose, restaurants, parks, even a simple night in at home, that don’t entail tromping all over someone else’s meticulously organized event. Selecting a baby shower is more about laziness and less about romance, such as standing up and saying, “Hey, everyone’s already here, and there’s cake. Let’s just do this here.” That isn’t love, that’s laziness masquerading as sentiment.

In the end, asking your sister’s baby shower isn’t just bad taste, it’s comedy, tragedy, and cringe combined. It guarantees that every family gathering for the next few decades will include someone saying to you, “Remember when you rocked the baby shower?” And as babies grow up and leave home, stories of unexpected proposals stick. Perhaps still asking him to foot the bill at the end was a bit much, but the text gives the impression that this had already been agreed upon, unlike his untimely proposal.

Most thought she did the right thing

Screenshot of a conversation where a woman shuts down her brother’s proposal at her baby shower with a sharp comment.

Screenshot of an online comment reacting to a woman shutting down her brother’s proposal at her baby shower.

Woman firmly shuts down brother’s marriage proposal during her baby shower event, causing tension among family members.

Alt text: Woman firmly shutting down brother’s marriage proposal at her baby shower, emphasizing focus on babies not proposals.

Comment on woman shutting down brother’s proposal at her baby shower highlighting family boundary crossing.

Alt text: Online comment discussing a woman shutting down her brother’s proposal at her baby shower event.

Commenter reacting to brother's proposal at baby shower, supporting woman who shuts down unwanted proposal.

Comment text on a social media post discussing a woman shutting down her brother’s proposal at her baby shower.

Comment discussing a woman shutting down her brother’s proposal at her baby shower, calling it tacky and unfair.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment defending a woman shutting down her brother’s proposal at her baby shower.

Comment discussing a brother’s proposal at a baby shower and the woman shutting it down.

Comment on a post about a woman shutting down her brother’s proposal at her baby shower, discussing family dynamics and respect.

Text conversation discussing a woman shutting down her brother’s proposal at her baby shower, expressing frustration.

Comment expressing disapproval of a brother's selfish proposal at his sister's baby shower.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment discussing a woman shutting down her brother’s proposal at her baby shower.

Some did think the bill was too much

Comment discussing handling of a brother’s proposal at a baby shower and the impact on the engagement.

Woman shutting down brother’s marriage proposal at her baby shower, capturing a tense family moment.

Comment on an online post showing a user disagreeing, in reference to a proposal shut down by a woman at her baby shower.

Text post from online forum discussing a woman shutting down brother’s proposal at her baby shower, focusing on family drama.

Comment on Reddit discussing sibling drama after woman shuts down brother’s proposal at her baby shower.

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