In just a few short weeks, I celebrate my favorite day of the year.
It’s Mother’s Day!
Except it’s not Mother’s Day I’m looking forward to. It’s my annual Fuck Mother’s Day post! In which I accumulate the very best of the very worst ads reducing mothers’ identities into a consumption category. Americans are projected to spend nearly 34 BILLION (BILLION) dollars on Mother’s Day, which is super cool in a country that seems fundamentally allergic to spending any money whatsoever on childcare, maternal healthcare, or social safety nets.
I NEED YOUR HELP.
If you’re like me, you avoid your Promotions folder like the plague, but for the love of all that is snarky, please dip in and send me the most infantilizing, infuriating ads you find. Instagram is sure to deliver as well. It always does!
Like, why do I want a pink plastic water bottle? A pink blender? A lavender "always pan" that is way lower quality than a regular pan? Why do I want other people in my life to give me yoga pants, or body lotion, or smelly candles? A facial where I have to sit in a chair and be prodded? No! Gross! For Mother's Day I want my husband and son to go on a hike with me (I pick), eat an afternoon meal with me at the low-key joint of my choosing (probably burgers), and let me pick the movie. Also, if they bring donuts in the morning, that would be nice.
Speaking as someone who bought herself a new backpack for mothers day last year, I can't stand ads for huge bags that assume you're carrying everyone's shit around all the time. I don't want a bag half the size of my body to carry my kids' and my husband's stuff! They have arms, they can carry their own stuff!!
They are all the worst! I'm commenting here because I recognize your intention is good to make an 'in your face' point, but I can't look at those ads in my promotional folder. There are few texts that I'm subscribed to that I deleted without opening.
Let's please start a boycott to stop buying things for everything?!
Even when I do not want anything other than a loving expression from my kids and husband - although the one from my mom outshines all others every time, maybe that's all I really want - I notice something quickly starts growing in me when I see and hear of friends' extravagant teas and brunches and gifts bestowed by adoring husbands. Whyyyyyyyyyy is this real.
There’s a Sherri’s Berries commercial I keep seeing where the kids bring mom flowers and chocolate covered strawberries. But the kids all get to touch and pick out strawberries and you never see the moms eating or even touching them. It’s hard to express why this bothers me SO much. It feels very subtle and yet clear — even a gift explicitly for a mom isn’t hers. She must WANT to share it with her kids. And smile when she opens the box and they touch all her stuff. Maybe I’m reading too much into it, but I get mad every time I see that commercial.
Like, why do I want a pink plastic water bottle? A pink blender? A lavender "always pan" that is way lower quality than a regular pan? Why do I want other people in my life to give me yoga pants, or body lotion, or smelly candles? A facial where I have to sit in a chair and be prodded? No! Gross! For Mother's Day I want my husband and son to go on a hike with me (I pick), eat an afternoon meal with me at the low-key joint of my choosing (probably burgers), and let me pick the movie. Also, if they bring donuts in the morning, that would be nice.
truly the assumption we all want fucking pink shit and brunch in bed is.....exhausting
Speaking as someone who bought herself a new backpack for mothers day last year, I can't stand ads for huge bags that assume you're carrying everyone's shit around all the time. I don't want a bag half the size of my body to carry my kids' and my husband's stuff! They have arms, they can carry their own stuff!!
EXACTLYYYYYYYYYY
F*ck Mother’s Day is the only Mother’s Day content I want rn.
That and pie.
From a salon in my area, an email with the subject “Mom will appreciate this more than a new Iron”
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They are all the worst! I'm commenting here because I recognize your intention is good to make an 'in your face' point, but I can't look at those ads in my promotional folder. There are few texts that I'm subscribed to that I deleted without opening.
Let's please start a boycott to stop buying things for everything?!
Even when I do not want anything other than a loving expression from my kids and husband - although the one from my mom outshines all others every time, maybe that's all I really want - I notice something quickly starts growing in me when I see and hear of friends' extravagant teas and brunches and gifts bestowed by adoring husbands. Whyyyyyyyyyy is this real.
absolutely WHY
There’s a Sherri’s Berries commercial I keep seeing where the kids bring mom flowers and chocolate covered strawberries. But the kids all get to touch and pick out strawberries and you never see the moms eating or even touching them. It’s hard to express why this bothers me SO much. It feels very subtle and yet clear — even a gift explicitly for a mom isn’t hers. She must WANT to share it with her kids. And smile when she opens the box and they touch all her stuff. Maybe I’m reading too much into it, but I get mad every time I see that commercial.
oh i'm RIGHT there with you!