That's a Stretch

I wasn’t going to write about Mother’s Day this week. I had something else crafted for you to read (sort of—it’s still a work in progress) but something popped up in my email today that offered me that perfect gift. 

‘Celebrate Mother’s Day,’ it read.

It was from Shapeez body shaping underwear company.

My mother would be seventy eight this year. I envisioned us laughing together as she squished herself into a back-fat eliminating camisole. 

I had to open the ad. 

Two perfect tens in their undies posed beautifully for the shot. There was not an ounce of fat on them to shape, but they were wearing their Shapeez anyway. 

I read the caption:

They know how much strength, love and grace I embody, so they also know how much I deserve to feel ‘comfortable and confident’, ie. by squeezing myself into a compression camisole that I can buy for a sweet fifteen percent discount.

Nothing says comfort like pulling sausage casing over yourself to hide the rolls, let me tell you.

I can’t believe I’m going to admit it, but I want to make a point. I have a Shapeez camisole. I love the thing when I’m wearing fabrics that cling in the wrong places, or those days I ate too much cake and need to rein things in a bit. Maybe it is an appropriate suggestion for Mother’s day because I’m sure I’ll be eating too much this weekend (my family thinks my only interests are pens, notebooks and food, which may or may not be true). But it’s a real stretch (!) to think I’ll be slipping on my Shapeez to enhance my confidence, comfort, or my celebration of motherhood. 

Sorry Shapeez. 

It’s silly, when you think about it. Businesses jump on these occasions and push the sale of items that probably fit as well as—let’s just say the product they offer may not be the perfect gift after all. 

Can you imagine your loved ones giving you a Shapeez for Mother’s Day? Unless it was specifically requested, that’s a risky gift. 

Notebooks, pens and romance novels set in Juniper Creek are much better options for the special moms in your life. ;) 

Remembering the sweet mothers in my world and sending them, and you, much love.

xoxo Tracey