I have to wonder. The other day I received a magazine that is considered THEE resource for all things baby in my hometown. Usually, I love reading through it. It is packed full of so much information and many creative ideas for parenting. This year, I was excited when I saw the intro page mentioned adoption!
I happily read through the magazine, making mental notes about all the ideas that would make me the most amazing mom ever- just do all of the activities and recommendations!!
And then...
I.WAS.STUNNED.
Orphan Doll
"Can be hand delivered in a basket and placed on a doorstep"
REALLY??????
The b@tch switch flipped on and let me tell you, there are no dimmer lights here!!! I immediately went to their website and clicked on their "about us" tab.
More Discouraging.
Every single employee is highly educated and has an impressive resume.
I think finding that out was much more disheartening. How can highly educated people be SO IGNORANT??
I hand wrote a letter to them explaining just how offensive this product promotion is to adoptive families.
As I wrote it, I kept thinking to myself, "Is it 2012? Have these people been living under a rock? I really, really don't get how someone could be THAT misinformed.
I'm still debating on whether I'm going to write the boutique who is selling them or if I should make a personal visit. Sometimes, I think it's good to put a face with a cause but I'm also not sure how in control of my emotions I will be able to be.
So here's my tip of the day: If you know someone who is adopting and you are wondering what kind of shower or baby gift you can get them,
DON'T GET THEM AN ORPHAN DOLL!!!
If you are offended by this and are comfortable writing a letter to the boutique asking them to stop selling this product, you would be standing up for many children and many families.
The store is listed right after the product.
My hometown you wonder?
Cincinnati.
Have a great day :)
From all the stories I hear at our adoption support group - I have a feeling this is only the beginning of fully understanding how insensitive and uneducated our culture is to adoption. Crazy isn't it?
ReplyDeleteI'm going to go ahead and HOPE that they're called that because they benefit/are made by an organization that cares for orphans?? Please? And another pet peeve of mine is when children's books, dolls, or toys feature only caucasian skin tones . . . that's something I didn't think about much before becoming mom to a beautiful brown-skinned daughter. (Shame on me.)
ReplyDeleteNancy
Ditto what Nancy said about characters always being caucasian and ditto on what Renae said!!! Completely blows my mind the things we encounter and often times I am shocked that educated people can be so dumb!!!
ReplyDeleteWOW... Going to check them out and give them a piece of my mind!
ReplyDelete