http://susiemadrak.com/2007/12/16/15/13/push-presents/ Keeping a jaundiced eye on the corporate media. Sat, 30 Aug 2008 00:51:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 http://susiemadrak.com/2007/12/16/15/13/push-presents/#comment-133315 k Mon, 17 Dec 2007 01:15:37 +0000 http://susiemadrak.com/2007/12/16/15/13/push-presents/#comment-133315 Argh. I agree that in the right hands, it probably is a meaningful and wonderful tradition. I seem to remember it in "Kristen Lavransdatter," that she had gotten a ring at the birth of each of her children. It's the tone in the article, as if the diamond earrings were more wonderful, more brilliant, more special than the birth of a human. I remember clearly the tulips my husband gave me when I was in the hospital (Emperor, pink center and green tips), and how hurt I was when he gave them to the nurses. "“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.”" Ick. Babies as inconvenience, as work. Ick ick ick. Is this more of the commodification of the human experience? Argh. I agree that in the right hands, it probably is a meaningful and wonderful tradition. I seem to remember it in “Kristen Lavransdatter,” that she had gotten a ring at the birth of each of her children.
It’s the tone in the article, as if the diamond earrings were more wonderful, more brilliant, more special than the birth of a human. I remember clearly the tulips my husband gave me when I was in the hospital (Emperor, pink center and green tips), and how hurt I was when he gave them to the nurses.
““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.””
Ick. Babies as inconvenience, as work. Ick ick ick. Is this more of the commodification of the human experience?

]]> http://susiemadrak.com/2007/12/16/15/13/push-presents/#comment-133301 elizabeth Sun, 16 Dec 2007 20:13:16 +0000 http://susiemadrak.com/2007/12/16/15/13/push-presents/#comment-133301 No it's not just you. But it's not me. For some of us it is cultural. It wasn't a tradition in my family but it was in my husband's. Its a gift acknowledging me and celebrating the new baby. These four pieces of jewelry (and they aren't diamonds) are my favorite and my children respond when i wear what was meant to commemorate their birth. It's really that simple. It's a nice gift to remember a special time by. I think you are making it more complicated than it is. No it’s not just you. But it’s not me. For some of us it is cultural. It wasn’t a tradition in my family but it was in my husband’s. Its a gift acknowledging me and celebrating the new baby. These four pieces of jewelry (and they aren’t diamonds) are my favorite and my children respond when i wear what was meant to commemorate their birth. It’s really that simple. It’s a nice gift to remember a special time by. I think you are making it more complicated than it is.

]]> http://susiemadrak.com/2007/12/16/15/13/push-presents/#comment-133293 American Goose Sun, 16 Dec 2007 19:28:23 +0000 http://susiemadrak.com/2007/12/16/15/13/push-presents/#comment-133293 The children of these petit bourgois can eat those diamond earings. Or else cash them in to pay for health care at some indeterminate future time. The children of these petit bourgois can eat those diamond earings. Or else cash them in to pay for health care at some indeterminate future time.

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