Baubles for an effort well deserved

Just thought I'd share something quaint that I read in the newspaper today. I'm sure all moms of new borns would love to get 'push- baubles' and 'Caesar-baubles'. Nice concept to market, eh? Why didn't anyone ever think of this when my babies were born?? Guess because mine were priceless gifts which no bauble could match!!

A bundle of joy isn’t enough? A ‘mama gift’ comes with it
by Thomas Vinciguerra

When Jena Slosberg of Bedford, New Hampshire, gave birth in March, she endured a labor that lasted 17 hours. But her discomfort was ultimately worth it, quite apart from the arrival of her daughter, Marin. In the recovery room, her husband, Paul, presented her with a pair of diamond earrings.
“I was on cloud nine,” Slosberg said. “It was the perfect present to make a frazzled, sleep-deprived, first-time mommy feel absolutely glamorous.” She added, “I wonder what 17 hours of labor will get me next time?”
In a more innocent age, new mothers generally considered their babies to be the greatest gift imaginable. Today, they are likely to want some sort of tangible bonus as well. This bonus goes by various names. Some call it the “baby mama gift.” Others refer to it as the “baby bauble.” But it’s most popularly known as the “push present.” That’s “push” as in, “I the mother, having been through the wringer and pushed out this blessed event, hereby claim my reward.” Or “push” as in, “I’ve delivered something special and now I’m pushing you, my husband/boyfriend, to follow suit.”
“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,” said Linda Murray, executive editor of BabyCenter.com. “The guilt really gets piled on.”
A recent survey of more than 30,000 respondents by BabyCenter.com found that 38% of new mothers received a gift from their mate in connection with their child. Among pregnant mothers, 55% wanted one. About 40% of both groups said the baby was ample reward. Sandra Miller of Arlington, is not among the 40%. “Women can and do expect a thoughtful token of appreciation,” she said. “It’s a way to honor a mother giving her emotions, body and hormones over to a baby for nine months, culminating in an experience which, when done naturally, redefines the meaning of pain. And when not done naturally, it’s still an act of sacrifice.”
Push presents seem to have taken off within the last decade, particularly in the last couple of years. In 2005 the Southeast-based jewellry chain Mayors marketed diamond earrings with the tag line, “She delivered your first born; now give her twins.” Fortunoff, the jewellry and gift chain with a Fifth Avenue flagship, established a push present registry six months ago. But the push present — unlike the 15-year anniversary ring — is apparently not the invention of the jewellry industry looking for another opportunity to sell goods.
(courtesy NYT NEWS SERVICE)