So push presents have hit the headlines – again – after the Duchess of Sussex was spotted sporting a new ring on her finger.
Rumour has it the diamond encrusted band was a gift from Prince Harry following the birth of baby Archie, and it’s fair to say the concept has met with some rather bad press – again.
Admittedly the term ‘push present’ is a vulgar one, but it’s really no different than the tradition of giving an eternity ring following the birth of a child.
It’s also an expression that was coined in America, and at the risk of stating the obvious, the Duchess of Sussex is, er, American. But Duchess of Sussex aside, I really don’t see what the big deal is. And I don’t mind admitting I wish I’d been given one – or three!
Why I wish I’d been given a push present – & don’t mind admitting it!
A couple of years ago I was asked to write a collaborative post on push present ideas for new mums, in which parenting bloggers shared gifts they’d been given by their other halves after giving birth.
Items ranged from diamond rings to watches, with one thoughtful hubby even tracking down a painting his wife had once sold and regretted, subsequently buying it back. Another presented his wife with a slab of goats’ cheese, which she couldn’t eat during pregnancy, a present she describes as ‘the sweetest gift’.
Having just given birth to baby number two myself I don’t mind admitting just a teeny tiny part of me was green with envy.
Because not all push presents are a case of ‘expecting’ or ‘demanding’ an expensive material item in return for giving birth. They’re about being given something you didn’t ask for and wouldn’t buy for yourself, no matter how small, in recognition of – and gratitude for – everything it took to grow and produce a tiny human being. And to my mind you don’t get more romantic than that.
I always remember an elderly lady on the Antiques Roadshow who had been given three diamonds by her husband: one after the birth of each child.
After being given a five figure valuation for the stones the valuer said: “Your husband must have loved you very much”. And it’s true. He must have done. I’ll always remember that.
So that’s why I wish I’d been given a push present too – and don’t mind admitting it!
What do you think? Do you agree with the concept of push presents? Did you receive – or give – one? Do tell!
I *may* have dropped a few hints after my first, just to make sure he knew that push presents were a thing! I got a bottle of my favourite perfume. Nothing after the second one though! #itsok
I don’t think that push presents were even thought of when I had my babies#blogginggoodtime@_karennis
I got one with my first (a surprise necklace, which I hadn’t expected) and I got nothing for the next 2 (we had no money). So I don’t think it matters really – you get the baby. And the life time of expenses. However, bringing me sushi to eat in hospital or these chocolate covered strawberries that make the whole hospital bit less hideous is also worth gold.
It’s lovely to get something but realistically, it’s better to have a ‘dad’ who chips in with the baby, rather than gives you some jewellery then goes back to ‘life as usual’ leaving you to do all the work alone.
So I don’t really care about it either way. But I guess if everyone was talking about it (getting a present) and you had nothing to say, then that might make it hard. But then it’s not really about the present, is it? #Ablogginggoodtime
Iβm all for any presents! I didnβt get anything after my first, but think he felt sorry for me getting to 38 weeks pregnant with twins and gave me a fabulous diamond eternity ring the night before I went into hospital. I feel like I earned that – and still do on a daily basis! #ItsOK
I hadn’t heard of them when my little fellow was born, but I quite like the idea – no, it doesn’t have to be materialistic, more just a little token of appreciation for going through the pregnancy and the labour and the pushing! #itsok to want that, we earned it and deserve it!
I’ve never heard of push presents before! I must have been hiding under a rock all these years, I’m due five! To be fair, I’m lucky if I get a Mother’s Day present so I doubt my husband would have been so thoughtful.