Just a littly PUSHY?

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This article about "push presents", which ran in last Thursday's NY Times, has been forwarded to me by a dear friend who knows how to get my panties in a twist. Titled "A bundle of joy isn't enough?", the piece focuses on the practice of men giving their birthing wives /girlfriends gifts (often referred to as "Push presents", which I find a particularly revolting term) as a way to celebrate the birth and show their appreciation for everything the mom endured.

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The piece suggests that many women have come to expect these gifts, though some women interviewed say they feel such an expectation is silly. Some men interviewed say they are cool with giving such gifts, while others apparently think such a practice is ludicrous.

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What the hell? My friend (who is now a first time mom to be) is undecided on where she stands on this issue. I, however am not so reserved.

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I cannot believe that women a)would expect or b) accept anything called a PUSH PRESENT.

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To me, that is more insulting than anything. I am not saying that after 17 hours of pushing I wouldn't want a nice pair of diamond earings, but are you kidding me?!

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What does the card read? "Thanks for pushing. You're swell!"

Maybe it's just me. I never got a push present for my kids.
But what the hell do I know? We got divorced, maybe that was the golden ticket?

Merry Christmas

Wishing you a wonderful next few days!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you.

too politically correct

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Today I took the kids to the mall to buy kid suitcases. (We're going on a trip with them to Disneyland next May, and they got to each choose a suitcases as part of their Christmas gift)
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So there we are, in the midst of mall santas and over caffeinated shoppers, having just completed our purchase, when my youngest says Merry Christmas to the sales lady as we walk away.

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Now what would you think the correct response would be such a sentiment from a 5 year old? A smile, and a nod, perhaps a "merry christmas to you too" back?
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NOPE.
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She told my 5 year old: " You should say happy holidays, since not everyone celebrates Christmas".
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My daughter just looked at her with a blank expression on her face.Then she looked up at me. I could see the sales person waiting for me to echo her sentiment, and to use this opportunity to teach my child the 'correct' way to greet someone during December.
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Instead I am going to teach her how to distinguish old bags from regular people.
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Having a discussion about politically correct Christmas greetings is not a discussion I want to have with my children. In fact it ranks right up there with the conversation about why Jake in her class has two daddys.
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It's not something I'm getting into with 5 year olds.
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Here's my question to you:
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How far are we going with this politically correct crap? You tell me! Why can' t a child say "merry Christmas" to another without being given a lecture? Why are we being sensored?
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I don't get it.
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Even if someone else doesn't celebrate Christmas, that doesn't mean we have to hide the fact that we do. Why would that even be offensive to someone? It shouldn't be.
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It's not like I'm putting someone else's beliefs down.
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I can talk like this because I experienced first hand what it is like to move here, and be a minority. I came to this country when I was 14. I had to learn a different language, different customs and different traditions. I have never felt insult if a tradition was different than mine. I was the one who moved here, if I didn't like it tough! After all, I chose to move here!
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And that is exactly why I hate how careful we've become as a nation to not offend any minorities with our opinions, our traditions and our culture. You know what? Most people who moved here from another country, have had bigger problems than being offended by someone celebrating Christmas!
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I refuse to teach my children to apologize for who they are. That doesn't mean I don't want them to be sensitive to others, it just means they don't have to be scared of sharing their opinions too.

sluts or skanks? Neither, just a new girl

Yes, I am referring to our new employee we just hired. Lovely lovely girl, all of 19 year old and more flakey than the snowflakes in my backyard.

But it's not in a bad way, just amusing. I have a window in my office so I get to watch the interaction daily. Have I mentioned I work in a mostly male field? (only male workers, only male clients) I am -should correct that, was- the only female there.

In walks Stacey. Let's call her that because you won't know if it's real or not anyway :-)

Fresh young meat. You could see the guys, circling like vultures.

Yup, circling.

So, like a bad accident, I watch. I pause and I look out my window.

Here, I'll draw a picture for you:

19, young and blonde. Her wardrobe must be left over from her last job as a call girl, because all she wears is skin tight shirts and short short skirts. When she wears jeans they're super low cut. So you have no choice but to notice her, um assets.

She's sweet as pie, but clueless. Men have two views to choose from. If they're in front of her, and she's at the desk -while they are standing mind you- they get to look down her shirt. If they're behind her, watching her lean over her desk, they get to see the pretty rhinestones in her g-string.

Win win situation for all.

Except that my boss is now asking ME to address this delicate situation, and to 'take her under my wing' so I can help her fit in better. He means make her more prude-ish like me :-)

Now I am not one to be at a loss for words, but I don't want to be the one telling her anything. And that guy in the office upstairs, I don't want to talk to him about deodorant either!! There are just some things that cannot be brought up delicately.

Hmmm... maybe if I am her "Secret Santa" and buy her a sweater, maybe that'll work!