just in time for mother's day

I am 40 years old.  I have seen a lot of commercials in my 40 years, but not as many lately with the invention of the DVR.  I speed through them now with my remote control teleportation device that delivers me, virtually wait-free, to the next scene I feel deserves my attention.  For all the advertisements that I refuse to give my time to, I am so grateful I watched this one.  This one, I believe, is as good as it gets.

This Olympic-inspired ode to moms from Proctor & Gamble's Thank You Mom campaign is quite literally the best advertisement I've ever seen.  Since watching it in its entirety yesterday, I've found myself thinking about it non-stop.  I've re-watched it several times.  I have posted it on Facebook, shown it to my husband and discussed it with friends.  I have forwarded it to my young daughters' email addresses with a note that read:

Dear Logan and Riley,


In case you ever wonder, this is exactly what it feels like to be a Mom.  And it has nothing to do with sports!


I love you guys!
Mommy

You might think I'm promoting this video because it depicts tiny Olympian hopefuls doing the sports my children love and arriving at the ultimate prize.  And I do like that part, but you'd be wrong.  I love this advert because I think it speaks about motherhood at it's very core.  It captures the absolute essence of this oftentimes thankless and all-times exhausting role.  It physically moves me and rattles at the cage that holds my biggest question, "Am I doing this job right?"   And through my audible gasps for breath and tears falling to the keyboard, it answers: "Yes." 

This video is about the Olympics, something I truly love and for which I am incredibly excited.  But it's also not about sports at all.  It's about the Olympian in every child and the unique successes, that as parents, we'll softly urge them onto, while we watch with baited breath and hearts bursting with hope.  And when they reach their milestone moments, whether they occur at a kitchen table, a graduation ceremony, the end of an aisle, in front of a camera, or on top of a podium, we will be there.  For some of us, only in spirit, for other lucky ones, in a corner or in the stands, out of the limelight, still gently urging them forward, and then reveling in how they stand on their own.

I already knew this job was a blessing, but thanks P & G for reminding just how blessed I truly am.  If you haven't seen it, please watch.  And then forward it on to others who need to see it, too.

Oh, and by the way, this speaks to more than just us Moms.  I'm quite certain Dad's feel the same way, too.  Can't wait to see what P & G delivers for Father's Day!