About Sweetmama Editor
Nadine Silverthorne’s love of journaling began in Grade One with the entry, “I am the greatest dancer!” Two babies (and countless diaper changes) later, she has found her home away from home as editor of SweetMama. Don’t miss her humorous bi-weekly accounts of the joys and pains of working while raising them fabulous.
What Do You Think of Push Presents?
silver spoons: are push presents nice or tacky? canada
(May.16.11)
Last week, Hollywood stylist Rachel Zoe made headlines when husband Rodger Berman gifted her a 10-carat Neil Lane ring (estimated at US $250,000), to honour the birth of their baby, Skylar.
This sparked a lot of discussion about push presents: gifts given by the parent who does not experience pregnancy, labour and delivery to the one who does, as if to say, "Thanks for doing all that."
The concept of a push present is not new. I recall a ring of my mother's, gold with three pearls in it, which my father gave to her after I was born to commemorate the fact that we were now a threesome. I don't think the gift was expected (or insisted upon); it was just a romantic gesture.
It may be because celebrities are wealthy and newsworthy, but it seems that push presents are now "a thing." According to this Mom Logic gallery, most celebrities receive jewellery when their babies are born (though Tori Spelling got a Balenciaga bag instead).
By focusing on the lavish nature of these gifts and giving it a label, are we cheapening the gesture a bit? And are we saying that it's mandatory to receive a gift for our maternal efforts? Or do we deserve a lovely token for the stretch marks and the stitches? What do you think?
*image courtesy of Tiffany & Co. ( a great place to buy push presents if you're into them.)
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