A little valentine from our cupids to yours.
Gone are the days of wishing for diamond necklaces and sexy dangle earrings. (All the dads are thinking, "Thank goodness!" They don't understand our ever-constant attraction to jewelry. "Didn't I buy her a necklace last Valentine's Day?" Well, yes, but really, my dear, it never gets old.) Necklaces and dangle earring have now become hazard magnets - hazards with the curious eyes and curiously strong hands of your baby. Time for husbands and dads to think a little differently when shopping for the mother of their baby/ies. Let's get smart and realistic - how to shop for your new mom:
- Instead of dangle earrings, try buying studs. Much harder to pull on and still allows your love to feel a little decorated. You will still win wonderful husband points and stay strong on the romance Richter Scale if you go for the diamonds or the appropriately colored sapphires or rubies.
- Sorry, but pretty much all necklaces are out; short and long. At least for every-day baby time. Babies spend a lot of time at neck level in mommy's arms and just can get their fingers around anything. Try again in another 2 years - or later if you're planning to have other ones.
- Every mom needs good looking cotton shirts completely devoid of baby stains to wear around and, more importantly, outside of the house. Go to Ann Taylor or some other retailer that has nice trendy shirts, perhaps even one that's a little feminine with a little lace edging or something. Wanna win extra points? Get a matching pair of pants or flirty skirt to match. It will really boost her sense of being put together. It will make her feel stylish and a much happier woman. (Mom's often "forget" they're also a woman and not just a mom.) Make sure the entire outfit is machine washable; she doesn't need to run extra errands to have it clean.
Women always love it when a man picks out an outfit for them; it shows you spent time and thought when giving. But if you don't have the confidence you'll get the "right" thing, a gift certificate will work. However, if you go this route, you must also get the following gift to accompany it. - Flowers are nice, but even better is a coupon for a babysitter! Free time that she can use to spend some uninterrupted girl time with her friends or to go shopping unencumbered and luxuriously try on anything she wants to!
- On a budget? Come home early, draw a nice bath with lots of bubbles and a calming CD, glass of wine and a good book. Go to her, demand that she hand over the baby/ies and tell her she's banished from all rooms but the bathroom. You will bathe, change, and feed the babies and put them to sleep for her tonight. She may initially feel awkward, but she'll love it and take the longest bath you ever thought possible.
Now, well-armed, go out and make her day! And, while I've laid it all out, pass this note to my husband so he won't be outdone by all of you!
