Push Present

**Preamble: I intend to be a working-mother. I have no judgments of and completely respect stay-at-home-moms. I also do not judge parents who enroll their child in daycare; it is an option we've discussed at length. Lastly, I love jewelry and I think any woman deserves whatever her heart desires. In short, I don't judge you, so extend me the same courtesy. Gracias.**

While doing a bit of reading on one of my maternity sites I was introduced to the concept of a "push present." Has anyone heard of this? At first, honestly, I didn't know to feel about the idea of a push present; my initial reaction was (and I think I said this out loud), "my healthy baby boy is the only thing I want!" But the more I mulled it over the more I felt like I wanted one.

A push present is a gift presented to the mother of your child after she gives birth (either vaginally or via Cesarean). It's meant to reward/thank/honor the gift she gave to you and her 40 weeks of incredibly painful exhaustion pregnancy. Typical "push presents" are things such as diamond rings, a bauble of the baby's birthstone, or something that can be kept and passed down the bloodline. Sometimes push presents include electronics; that new phone or computer. I've even read that a day of pampering (massages, facials, and/or a mani/pedi) are presented to the new Mom.

While y'all know I really love bling, at this point in my life, I don't have any desire to get a new piece of jewelry; I received my bling in 2008. I'm not into electronics so some fancy schmancy phone or computer isn't my thang. I wouldn't mind a day of pampering but I'll probably feel so disgustingly flabby after I birth Alien that the thought of a masseuse even coming near my (probably) unshaven and stretched out body completely revolts me. What's left?

I really thought about the concept. It's odd how once you (or at least this is true for me) find out you're going to have a baby material is no longer important to you. I didn't feel "right" asking Aaron for something that I would keep in my jewelry box. So, I had to ask myself, what is important to me? Then it clicked; it hit me like a ton of bricks. TIME. My time is precious. My time with my baby boy and my husband will be even more precious, especially once I return to work.

I have complete intentions of returning to work. I want to return to work. We did make the decision, however, that I will only return to work 3 days per week. I'm fortunate in that Aaron gets paternity leave. I'm due at the end of May so once Alien is out, Aaron is done for the year. This means he and I will have the entire summer with our baby. Granted I may work a bit later on in the summer but I won't be teaching and I will at least take the first 6-weeks off. This means I won't have to think about childcare options until September.

So how does this fit into my thoughts about a "push present?" When Aaron and I do return to work, him full-time, me part-time, every second we have with each other and Alien will be precious.
I've decided my push-present will be a nanny-keeper. What, pray tell, is a nanny-keeper, you ask? Well, it's someone I hire who comes to my house 3 days per week to take care of my baby, my dogs and my home.

Brilliant.

Nanny-keepers do light housework (floors, dusting, laundry, and dishes) and take care of my baby and my puppies. It will be so relieving to come home to a clean house after a day of work knowing my baby has remained in the comfort of his home and my dogs have been walked. If I can have this, then I just bought myself some time to relax with my family.

Alien will be the best gift I could ever receive. Maybe I'm greedy to want a bit more time to myself/my family/my child/my husband/my dogs. So, I cave. I am totally buying into the idea of a push present and Aaron is in agreement. We would have to pay for daycare three days per week anyway. What's a few more dollars to keep my baby in his home, my home in good order, and my sanity intact?

I'm officially requesting an Alice for my push present.

*Also, as an aside: I am getting Aaron a "pride present" to celebrate/reward/honor all those times he had to completely swallow his pride and allow me to do/say/eat whatever I wanted while pretending I'm the greatest thing to ever live and wait on me hand and foot.