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I have to provide a list of people (friends and family from my side of family) to be invited to my daughter-in-law’s baby shower. Many of the relatives are estranged. These would be some aunts and cousins of my son. I don’t know how to handle this. I feel silly inviting people I don’t talk to. They are my husband’s sisters.  Consequently my son has never gotten to know them or his cousins very well because of this. Yet, I don’t want anyone to feel slighted and make matters worse.

–Becca

People like to be invited, but they also know that showers are a push for presents. Especially when they don’t know the honoree, it can be awkward for both the inviter and invitee.
On the other hand, family events such as a baby shower present themselves as a golden opportunity to catch up with estranged family members. Invite the relatives you would like to see again. The ones who live an hour or more away would not be expected to be invited. It goes without saying, those who have never met the baby’s parents, would not be invited. What I’m suggesting is to invite relatives you would like to reconnect with and/or generally adore, and do not stress yourself out about the others. Everyone knows you cannot invite everybody, so invite those whom you are fond of, as well as those who have invited you to similar family events.

~Didi