My Gender Reveal Party Was Absolutely RuinedThe party, which was meant to be enjoyable and joyous, descended into turmoil when an individual chose to intervene. This is not how I thought my gender reveal party would turn out.One of my favorite parts of being pregnant, in my opinion, would have been organizing a gender reveal party. I was thrilled to be a 26-year-old expecting my first kid with Matt and eager to enjoy every second of our new marriage. It felt ideal to announce our baby’s gender to our friends and family after everything Matt and I had to go through to get here.When the big celebration day finally arrived, our backyard looked fantastic. Streamers flapped, pastel balloons swirled in the breeze, and a large banner above the patio boldly questioned,

Boy or Girl? Twenty-three people were eating and drinking lemonade and nibbling on snacks as they strolled around, laughing and conversing. It felt like the ideal day, with the sun shining and everything in its right place. I was trying not to get too worked up when I noticed Aunt Linda moving through the crowd. She was Matt’s older aunt, and although she didn’t mean any damage, her direct opinions frequently left you wondering about yourself.She yelled out, grinning as she walked up, “Emma, dear.” “I was just saying to Matt’s cousin that, in my day and age, there was no need for all of this drama to determine the gender of the baby. What happened to the traditional surprise of old?”I feigned a laugh. “Well, Aunt Linda, it’s just a game. It appears to be enjoyable to all.” She gave a nod, but her typical critical gaze was already skimming the decorations.