Really? A “Push Present”?

Ok, so we’re deviating from the holiday format for a post to bring you what I think is one of the most ludicrous things I’ve ever heard of: the “Push Present”. Blame it on the New York Times: they ran the story that just made me gag a little bit.

As a biological mother, I understand the whole pregnant business. It can be miserable, and I’m not one of those people that pregnant necessarily looks good on, but I don’t exactly expect a medal for my nine months of “suffering”, and I’m not about to suggest the idea to my spouse. This Times article is inane for several reasons, but the biggest one I can see is the whole position that women are now “pushing” their spouses/partners into buying them exorbitant gifts in exchange for bearing offspring. Kind of like kids with a payment plan.

This is wrong on so many levels, and since it deals with gifts, I figured I might as well cover it here:

1. This article focuses on the superficial. The women interviewed mostly sound very materialistic.
2. The ad campaigns featured in the article are ridiculous! Seriously: “She delivered your first born; now give her twins.” (Just in case you don’t read the article, the “twins” are diamond earrings)
3. Having a child is a very special event. If you’re going to give your baby’s mamma something nice to commemorate that oh-so-special event, give them something with a special meaning other than “The diamond industry said this was a good idea, so I thought I’d plunk some cash on it”. Don’t think that giving mom a bracelet gets you off the hook for a few midnight feedings. Give her a gift certificate to a spa along with the promise that you’ll watch junior for a saturday of one-on-one pampering. Give her something luxurious that you know she’d love, but wouldn’t buy for herself. Don’t just give her jewelry because you think she’s now “earned it”.

The article does have a few redeeming elements to it: the owner of gift consulting business ThinkThoughtful.com comes out squarely against the concept of “You’ve earned these, mom”:

“I do not think that because a woman has had a baby she requires a Tiffany & Company item. She requires help, love and emotional support.”

A-friggin’-men.

Posted on 7 Dec 2007 by Tina V.