Why I bought my own 'push present'
Sometimes you just feel you deserve a bit of bling, right?
I first came across the idea of a 'push present' when I was around 21. An older female friend at church had 3 kids - and every time she had a baby her lovely husband gave her a piece of amber jewellery - a necklace for the first, earrings for the second and a ring for the third.
Thy weren't called push presents then as far as I know - they were just called 'presents' - but looking back, it's basically what they were. The term's been coined much later I suspect (most definitely in the US) but we all know what it is, right?
Fast forward to my own experience of being a mum: I was really proud to give birth. And I admit that, while I did have a beautiful baby girl to show for it all, I kind of wanted some jewellery too.
I mean, who doesn't like getting a new set of sparkles, right? ? It makes you feel special, pampered and treated - and we all need a bit of that after labour.
Thing is - my husband did spend out just a couple of weeks after we became parents - by taking me to a super fancy meal which probably cost the size of a small (medium) diamond.
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This was his amazing way of showing how proud he was of me - and, admittedly, a date night was a very romantic gesture. But I knew after that there'd be no bling...
A couple of months later I was browsing my local shopping centre and saw a ring. I loved it. It wasn't too expensive - and the symbolism - one huge (cubic zirconia) stone in the middle with a little silver orb on either side of it blew me away.
My precious little girl - the bright shining diamond in the middle - with me and her Dad on either side.
I ummm'ed and ahhh'ed about it - as, although it didn't cost the earth, we all know money's tighter than ever when you've had a baby and are on maternity leave.
My husband offered to give me the cash for it. But eventually, after a lot of thought over it, I turned him down and bought the ring for myself.
You see this ring is my present to me - for going through labour - and is something I can have with me always to remind me of how precious my family is to me.
My daughter, now 5, knows the significance of it - and I've told her one day I'll give it to her.
Every time I look at it (several times a day, when I'm at work and can't be with my daughter) I'm reminded of that amazing and surreal experience of becoming a mum.
In fact it's probably my most treasured possession - and I'm never taking it off.
What do you think?
Did your partner get you a push present? Did you buy yourself one? Or maybe you didn't want or need one?
Tell us in the comments below or over on Facebook
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Authors
Tara is mum to 1 daughter, Bodhi Rae, and has worked as Content Editor and Social Media Producer at MadeForMums since 2015
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