I learned about “push presents” on Free Republic. I get the idea that this was a European nobility kind of thing that tumbled down the social ladder. Me, silly farm girl ... I thought not being pregnant anymore was all reward I needed!
Apparently there is also a custom of the father’s giving the mother a present every year on the child’s birthday, even if the parents are no longer married or “together.” I don’t even expect presents on my birthday, except from my mother. Also, I get a card from my brother.
My husband and I have a deal: he earns a living, I make sure it stretches for all of us. I don’t ask how much he spends on his hobbies and travel. He doesn’t ask how much I give to the Missionaries of the Poor. Once in a while I say, “Mind what you spend until we’ve paid off the credit card bill,” and we’re both careful for a while.
I wish I had learned about push presents from FR. Unfortunately, I didn’t. It was not fun hearing about it the way I did.
To me, this all sounds more like greed and materialism. It is becoming harder and harder for me to understand this latest generation and their desires.