Jennifer Lopez Push Present From Marc Anthony Was A Canary Diamond Ring and Diamond Earrings, When Jennifer Lopez gave birth to twins in 2008, her then-husband, Marc Anthony, delivered two push presents to say thank you—a $300,000 canary diamond ring and diamond earrings worth a reported $2.5 million. But the couple still came out ahead—People magazine paid millions for their first baby photos.
My hip urban sister spent the holiday weekend planting vegetables and cleaning out the rabbit hutch at her boyfriend’s rural Pennsylvania home.
“I deserve a push present for all that work,” she told me after her “Green Acres” experience.
Not being near as hip or urban as she is, I responded that I had never heard of the term “push present” and asked her to explain.
“Oh, it’s really big here in the city. Husbands give their wives jewelry and other gifts when they have a baby.”
Push present? Darn. Where was I when this lovely tradition began?
Jessica Simpson’s fiance, Eric Johnson, gave her several platinum bracelets, a matching amethyst necklace and a band engraved with their new baby’s birth date. The custom-made bangles from the island of Capri — where the couple spent a romantic vacation — cost the pro football player $30,000.
Celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe’s husband presented her with a 10-carat diamond ring. Keith Urban gave wife Nicole Kidman a $73,000 Cartier Trinity ring.
Not to be outdone, Marc Anthony gave his ex-wife Jennifer Lopez a $30,000 canary-diamond ring and $2.5 million diamond earrings engraved with the initials of their twins.
Wow. My beloved brought me a vat of chicken noodle soup from Mr. Deli after I delivered our first. And that was the quart size, bucko, not the pint.
According to a story by The Associated Press, postpartum bling migrated to the U.S. from England and India over the last decade.
Retailers quickly jumped on the trend. In its ad campaign for diamond studs, the Florida-based jeweler Mayors quipped: “She delivered your first born, now give her twins.”
As you can imagine, the idea of getting payola for popping a kid has gotten a mixed reaction.
Some say women deserve a little sumpin’ sumpin’ for enduring the pain and suffering of childbirth. What’s a little piece of jewelry compared with the sacrifices a new mom makes of her body, lifestyle and mental health? You bet your sweet bauble she’s earned that gift!
Women who delivered by C-section or adopted also deserve those shiny rewards, they add. So “pushing” is not entirely a prerequisite.
Some counter that having a healthy baby is gift enough. Those little tykes are expensive and parents should save for diapers! Formula! College!
One mom decried the gifting as an example of the Cro-Magnon attitude of Big Daddy buying his Little Woman a bauble to keep her happy — and quiet.
I’m sure all of us moms would love to find something sparkly on the other end of labor — and not just a glistening wet diaper. But it’s one thing if the push present comes from love and appreciation or from guilt and expectation. I think a personalized gift with a special meaning between the parents is lovely.
I was just so grateful that my babies were healthy and that I had survived that I didn’t even consider leaving the hospital with anything but balloons and a flower arrangement or two.
A quick sampling of Facebook friends showed that most moms appreciated a treat they couldn’t have during pregnancy: Jennifer Davis-Lewis got a chocolate milkshake, Snickers bar and french fries. Nancy Neuin’s friend smuggled in a mini frozen margarita. Dina Angello had her first ice cream cone after developing gestational diabetes, and Carol Schneidereit received a dozen roses.
Come on, what kind of ice do you really want after nine months of self-denial: a frosty cold one or a cold gold one?
I wonder if baby baubles stem in some way from how our generation has coddled its offspring. Even though you crossed the finish line last, you’re still a winner, honey! Here’s a trophy just for the effort. Hurray for everybody!! For some in this generation, there has to be a reward at the end of every task or it’s not worth doing.
For my last birthday, my children gave me what I consider the best push present ever. They took a photo of themselves from childhood and replicated it as they are now.
There’s my son, covered happily in chocolate as a baby and as his teen-aged self. My oldest daughter peeking joyfully from an evergreen tree 15 years ago, and then wearing the same beautiful smile today. I love those pictures, both past and present.
Frankly, the name “push present” isn’t very romantic or endearing anyway. Heck, anyone can push. But not everyone can parent.
Snickers, anyone?
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