I Want a Push Present, So What?

A new trend (that I happen to be 100% behind) is the "push present". For those of you who don't know, a push present is a gift given to the woman who just carried a baby inside of her for 9 months and then literally "pushed" it out of her. The name isn't great because obviously mamas who get C-sections should get a gift too so it could called a Labor Present or something more general, but I digress. To put it simply it is a gift that is given by the father of the child to the mother of the child basically saying "thank you for going through hell to have this child". Sounds great right? Not according to mom shammers! ​

I Want A Push Present, So What?

You Had a Shower, Do You Really Need More Gifts?

While baby showers are great and very much appreciated they are for baby. Sometimes a guest will bring a bottle of wine for mom to enjoy after delivery but the vast majority of gifts revolve around baby; clothes, diapers, crib, highchair, stroller, towels, everything a baby needs to be brought into this world. Do not get me wrong I am super grateful for everything I received at my baby shower it was all a big help, but wanting something that is specifically for ME after I give birth does not make me an ingrate, I just want a little recognition.

Also, now that I am on my second pregnancy I didn't have a baby shower this time around so the push present may very well be the only gift I get. Why are you trying to take it away from me?

Isn't the Baby the Gift?

We all know it is a blessing to have a child. But no the baby is not my gift after having carried said baby for 9 months and gone through labor and delivery, that baby was hard work. After all is said and done it is absolutely worth it but I wouldn't exactly call baby a "gift". I'd say baby is a miracle. But I can also say that after all that hard work I'd like a little something extra that focuses on me since all of my time and energy are going to be focused on the baby For. The. Rest. Of. My. Life. I was just a vessel carrying around this human until it was ready to come out and I should be rewarded. 

Everything Doesn't Need To Be So Extravagant 

This, I agree with. A Push Present isn't meant to break the bank for our partners. Like an Engagement Ring, a Push Present should be purchased within the means of the father. If you are Kanye West you can afford to buy a 1 Million Dollar necklace, if you are not Kanye West there are plenty of jewelry stores that sell necklaces for less, I promise.

The Push Present doesn't have to be jewelry either. If mama isn't going to wear it, don't buy it! Buy her something you know she likes; a new, soft robe and fuzzy slippers or lotions and soaps from a store she likes. For me? I am waiting for the day I can get my butt to the hair salon for a cut and color. So a gift certificate to the salon would make a wonderful Push Present for me. 

You know what else mama might need after having a baby? New clothes! You know what she's going to feel guilty about spending money on? New clothes FOR HER. A gift card to her favorite clothing store could do wonders as it will allow her to focus on her shopping needs instead of baby because let's face it, whenever we go shopping we can't help but think of all the things baby "needs" and then we don't spend any money on ourselves. 

So yes, celebrities have made the Push Present extravagant but that's only because they CAN! Push Presents don't need to be extravagant they just need to be thoughtful. If you are a woman who feels Push Presents are tacky or self-serving that's your prerogative but please don't hate on a woman just because she wants someone to think of her for a change, we should all be able to agree that after giving birth women don't get to think about themselves very much and it would be nice if someone did.