I never write posts on Saturdays anymore, unless I just have something really important to say, or unless I have a survey.
(I have no idea what the connection is, except that “Survey Saturday” flows really well.)
But this is both: it’s a matter of grave importance AND a survey.
Push Presents.
i.e., a present for Mommy recognizing the grueling and laborious work of nine months that culminates into an act so violent and gruesome that it had to be the result of some sort of curse on women.
(Thanks a lot, Eve.)
I had never heard of a push present until a couple of months ago when one of my also-pregnant friends, Jessica, posted on Facebook what she wanted for her push present.
Of course, I immediately thought that the idea was absolutely stinkin’ brilliant, totally regretted not knowing about it when I had Ali, and also assumed that if you earn a “cut you open from pelvic bone to pelvic bone present” instead of a literal push present, that of course there should be a 20% increase in gift value.
Which means that I should get a Cut-You-Open present (plus four years of interest) for Ali and a to-be-determined present for Noah.
Right?
So I told Chris about the amazingly wonderful idea of a push present, and although he, being the extremely smart man that he is, did not in any way impune my deserving state of such a present and said he would gladly recognize my misery efforts with a present, was somewhat suspicious that this idea actually existed since neither of us had ever heard of it.
Which made me start to think: was my friend just full of brilliance and made the concept up and told her husband that everyone got one?
Or have I just been missing out?
So I did my research due diligence: Wikipedia.
Apparently, men in England and India have had this tradition right for a long time, but it’s a fairly new concept in the US, and is spreading through peer pressure (or, more likely, pregnant-wife-pressure) and, of course, jewelry store advertising campaigns.
Two quotes from Wiki:
“It’s more and more an expectation of moms these days that they deserve something for bearing the burden for nine months, getting sick, ruining their body.”
Yes!!
And…
“A 2007 survey of over 30,000 respondents by BabyCenter.com found that 38% of new mothers received a push present, and 55% of pregnant mothers wanted one, though fewer thought it was actually expected. About 40% of both groups said the baby itself was already a present and did not wish an additional reward.”
(gag!!!) – why let the little detail of the blessing of a new baby take away from the opportunity for a present to recognize our grueling efforts???
Forty percent of the world is CA-RRRAZY.
At any rate, if you’re wondering, my push present dream (or, more accurately, my push present plus back-interest cut-you-open present plus Christmas present) is to finally get a Big Girl Camera. To move up into the world of DSLRs.
Just barely – mind you – nothing professional or crazy expensive. Now I’ve just got to decide if I want to go Nikon or Canon…and which one – I’m way overwhelmed by all the different models.
So. To sum up this unbelievably-important survey, Here’s what I need to know:
1. Have you heard of a push present?
2. Did you get a push present?
3. What sort of DSLR camera should I get?
The fate of the world hinges on your answers.
Nope….didn't get one stinkin' thing…not even a stupid flower! That was even after I hinted around I wanted one. Hubby is clueless! :o(
I am a Nikon girl….love, love, love my "idiot-proof" Nikon!
I tried to. I even tried to guilt him in front of his friends but alas no one else had heard of it either. My husband is a wonderful, godly man, but spending money unnecessarily is not in his nature. :-)
Yep, I've heard of them.
No, didn't get one.
And I love my Canon!
I'm one of the crazy ones. I'd heard of a push present and didn't pursue it. I'd rather he gave me something because he wanted to rather than because he had to. Plus, we were having our first baby. That in itself is a pretty expensive undertaking.
As far as the camera goes… I want the Nikon myself.
1. Have you heard of a push present?
Nope
2. Did you get a push present?
Nope
3. What sort of DSLR camera should I get?
We have a Canon – love it.
Hmm..babies ARE pretty expensive…
(sigh)
**starting to feel guilty about asking for a push present**
I haven't heard of the push present, but extremely good idea.
I have a Nikon, and love it, but I've never tried the Canon, so I could love it more!
1. Yes, heard of them
2. TBD – we'll see in 8 wks or so!
3. I LOVE LOVE LOVE my Nikon D40x – it's super-easy to learn how to use – as are most Nikons. This model now has some age on it, since I got if for a college grad gift in 07, but check out the comparable models. I would also suggest you buy a few copies of Popular Photography and read lots of reviews. I got mine in a pretty cool package deal on Ebay. I will also say that if you get a package deal, including an extra lens is better than a lot of other smaller goodies.
I guess I'm part of the 40%. Never heard of a gift, didn't get one, don't feel like I missed out. Never felt like I ruined my body. Of course it would be sweet if, on their own, a hubs gave some sort of sweet sentiment to commemorate such a special time. Save the camera for Christmas.
1. Hadn't heard of it with my first. (let him off the hook with my second.)
2. Hubby was awesome at not knowing about a push present but go me one anyway…a ring with E's birth stone in it. He'd gotten it for me before her birth and gave it to me when she was born…which was a bit dangerous because she barely made the cut in her month. Born on the 30th.
3. My Canon 50D rocks my socks off. Sold off my Nikon DSLR just so I could get a Canon. :)
Push present? What if you push out 10 and a half pounds? Can I get 2 push presents for each birth? Technically that is a baby and a half by today's standards. So that's 12 push presents for me. I may have to catch up on this.
I shoot Canon. Love it.
1. No.
2. No.
3. Canon! =) (Though they're pretty much the same I think) I love LOVE the camera upgrade we made a few years ago and I know you will too!
Kudos to Chris for getting you one!
Heard of it. Didn't get one (of course, we're also the people who don't buy each other birthday, Christmas, or anniversary presents). No opinion on the camera. Ours is an old Fuji Finepix and I've been wanting to upgrade, so you test one out and let me know how you like it. :)
I've heard of push presents. Makes good sense. Never actually been present but I would love for you to get one. That way when I actually do get pregnant and go through labor I can list one more person that I…er…."know" that got one so he absolutely has to get me one.
I have a Nikon D90 and absolutely adore it. Here are some pictures I took in Peru with it. http://behindthebur.blogspot.com/2010/05/i-see-skies-of-blue-and-clouds-of-white.html#links It's amazing, but I've seen good pictures from both types. Get what makes you happy!
B (on his own) gave me a piece of jewelry in the hospital both times. I have to say that it made me feel really appreciated for the whole gestation and birthing part that I played.
I don't have a dslr, but I borrow my in-laws periodically. They both have Canons and are big fans. I liked it a lot the times that I've borrowed it.
Push presents were a big thing with some girls I taught with in Auburn, never heard of them before then.
Haven't ever gotten or asked for a push present.
I have several friends with the Nikon and my brother-in-law has the Canon, don't know which is better, but they all love their cameras…I know that was lots of help :)
1. I've never heard of a "push present". I'm all for presents though.
2. I've never gotten a push present. I don't think it would've occurred to my husband to get me one… and I probably wouldn't have forced the issue. That never works out well for me :P
3. I don't have a big girl camera yet, but I'm looking – make sure to let us know what you decide on and how you like it!
I'm in the 40%, but I'm not really into expected presents. But now that you have opened this can of worms, I'm sure that Hallmark will jump on the bandwagon. Maybe you should do a blog on the gift cards' expressions of love. Mom
Yep, I've heard of push presents, but not by that name.
Yep, I got 'em. My hubby gave me a camcorder when my son was born 15 years ago and a china press when my daughter was born 12 years ago (ok, maybe not the most romantic gifts, but I loved both of them!)
Anne
1. don't remember where, but we heard of them before our first child.
2. i got a pair of earrings (not diamond studs!) with baby #1, and a REALLY nice evening out after baby #2. pretty sure there will be nothing after #3 since we had to buy a van, which i think he considers a pre-push present :).
3. don't know anything about cameras – sorry.
1. I had heard of husbands giving presents for pregnancy/birth, but I had not hear the term "push present".
2. NO. I just informed my husband about this, and he said, "Okay, when is the deadline for said present?" So, thank you. Hopefully your post has motivated him to rewarding me for throwing up for a total of 15 months in my two pregnancies.
hmmm…I have never heard of this…of course, NOW I have!
I have never heard of a push present, but when my daughter was born 3 years ago my husband gave me a day at the spa: full body massage, facial, manicure, and pedicure, plus lunch. He watched our daughter so I could get away for the day of pampering.
I have an old Canon, and I think my iPhone takes better videos, but Ryan at the Pacing the Panic Room might be able to give you some good advice.
1 – YES definitely heard of push presents… knew well before having kids, started working early on that seed
2 – a nice little bauble I wear on my ring finger along with my engagement ring and wedding ring (mind you both of my girls were born in August, so the same push present was used for both – LOL)
3 – I have a canon rebel and love it :)
Yes, push presents are a real thing! Jeremy gave me my "W" necklace. I'm a Nikon girl. I have the D60 and just got a teeny weeny Coolpix.
Just realized I missed this post. I have never heard of a push present. I guess I would like one, but not if it was forced. I would rather my husband got me something because he wanted to…but he didn't with the last two so maybe I should push the issue next time. Hahaha:)
I have no idea about the camera. I'm not ready for a big girl camera yet, when I am I'll just get whatever you picked. Haha:)
Yes, I've heard of push presents and totally believe in them, but NO I didn't one for either of my 2 kids. And I'm still mad about that. :-(
I did get surprise diamond earrings one Mother's Day, but I came to find out that my husband also bought a big screen TV. He had gotten a bonus check at work and thought the TV would go down easier with a pair of earrings.
1. Yes I have heard of them.
2. No… didn't get a cut-me-open present for my first or a push present for my second. /sigh DH had never heard of them and was greatly suspicious of my claims. You MUST get a push present, and spread the knowledge, for the good of us all! :D
3. Both Nikon and Canon are great… I don't think you can go wrong with either one of those.
Yes. No. Nikon.
I haven’t heard of them, I didn’t get one, but my sister buys her self nursing presents. The idea is she saves money by nursing therefore that saved money can go towards herself for nursing. My husband didn’t fall for that.