Motrin Ad — stupid but not damning

Social Media

Ok, the makers of Motrin made a mistake. They put up an advertisement that they thought was amusing and apparently sympathetic to moms who wear their babies in slings or backpacks or in front carriers, suggesting they might need pain relief after wearing their kids all day.

Ok, the ad was a stupid idea. I’ve watched it a few times and, while I’m not outraged or even very much offended, am not about to run out and buy a bottle of Motrin because of it. It’s mildly, although somewhat uncomfortably, amusing even — in a mean-spirited stand-up comedian kind of way.

Dona and Andrew Yosemite Granted, I’m not a mother of young children anymore — my teenagers are too big to carry around in slings — but I was. I used backpacks and front carriers on a daily basis. Sometimes at the same time. Even while hiking in Yosemite. It was easier than carrying them and it made all of us happier. I could cook dinner or clean house and be with my infant and toddler at the same time.

But, this part of the ad was true — it was painful. The stress on my shoulders and back made the occasional pain medication necessary to get through the day. What did I take for it? I don’t remember. Maybe Motrin. Maybe Advil. Maybe Tylenol.

So, while I understand that the mommy twitterers and bloggers out there are unhappy about the advertisement, and their collective outrage made a point, continuing the outrage is overkill. The company has apologized and promised to remove the advertisement from their website immediately (which they must be doing now because the website is inaccessible at this writing). [edited: The Motrin website is back up with apology notice.] They’ll also remove the ad from magazines and newspapers, but said it would take more time for that since they are already in circulation.

I’m hoping that the baby-wearing moms who twitter and blog and vlog out there will realize that the makers of Motrin did the right thing by apologizing and removing the offending advertisement and not demand blood from the company. Moms can be unrelenting when it comes to their kids — I know from experience on both sides — as a mom and as a former teacher.

I think, what’s going to come out of this, is not so much the satisfaction of social media savvy women with children (although hopefully that will be the case), but a deeper understanding of how important social media has become. It’s going to be a highlighted example of what social media can do.

And as a sidenote, it’s interesting to note that the woman who reported on this on Mashable works at one of my alma maters in my hometown of Elgin, Illinois.

Aunt Ginny

Events, People
Ginny helps Dona draw at Grandma's diningroom table.

My Aunt Ginny was 11 when I was born. She was more like a big sister to me than an aunt. I remember lots of good times with her. She took me to see Mary Poppins and said she cried (or nearly did) for the little old birdwoman.

I was “Junior Bridesmaid” in her wedding and once, when my mom and I were having a tough time, I decided wanted to move in with my aunt and uncle (either them or my Grandma and Grandpa). I even harbored a secret fantasy that Ginny was actually my mom, conveniently ignoring the fact that she was still a child when I was born.

Visits to Illinois used to be extra special when we got together — often for a day of shopping. We even stayed with Ginny and her husband, Jack, a few times while we were in the area.

A couple of years ago Ginny and Jack moved to Mississippi and never looked back. I felt betrayed, but really couldn’t blame them — after all, I escaped the Midwest too, didn’t I?

They’re very happy in Mississippi. I hope to see them again someday, but I’m sure it will be on their turf and not ours. It’s possible they’ll never see my kids again — after all, the kids are going to be off on their own before too long and won’t be taking many more family trips with us. Mississippi just isn’t necessarily on the radar any time soon.  We’d planned on visiting them soon after they moved to Missisippi, but circumstances prevented it.

I think that I’m just going to have to put my foot down and pay them a visit, with or without my husband and kids. I don’t see any other way, really.  Sometimes the world seems like a smaller place these days, but other times it seems far too large.