…And Bells on Her Toes

I heard the most unsettling commercial today on the way to work.  A discount jeweller said in the commercial something to the effect of their diamonds were cheaper than anywhere else, blah blah how you get so much more for your one carat than you could anywhere else etc.  It was your typical “I’m better than you” angle.

And then they got to the punchline.  I’m paraphrasing but I believe they actually said that if you bought something from them, you would be providing babies with families. 

I was floored. 

Excuse me?? Did I hear that correctly?  Are they implying that if you have a child out of wedlock they don’t have a legitimate family?  If you are the poor single mom without a hubby and a man presents you with one of these wonderful rocks you suddenly have worth and are a family?  What century are we in?

Are there orphans running amok in Toronto that I’m unaware of?  Is this a new BOGO gimmick? Buy One Diamond Get One Child Free?  I have this mental image of a store clerk packaging up a beautiful engagement ring in a box and then in a bag and then they drop this poor baby into the bag – perhaps like a gift with purchase? 

I happen to know many women who chose not to get married simply because they had a child and you know what?  They’re thriving.  They are a family.  Sometimes men change the dynamics too much.

Perhaps the owners of that commercial believe that first comes love, then comes marriage, then comes Susie with the baby carriage?  I assume they were trying to project a wholesome image.  It is meant to show good family values but the ended up missing the mark.

I know I’ll never shop at that store and I’ll recommend my friends do the same.