thank you, America's Favorite Mom and Teleflora

In response to my email:

Thank you for contacting Teleflora to share your thoughts about the "Teleflora presents America's Favorite Mom" program. In response to your concerns, Teleflora is immediately changing the name of our "Non-Mom" category to "Adopting Moms." After closer examination, we can see how this may have been offensive to moms who have adopted children -- moms who are indeed real moms to their children in every sense of the word. In fact, many of us at Teleflora are "adopting" parents ourselves, including our president and owner. The essence of this category still focuses on a grandparent, neighbor, step mom, or mom to adopted or foster children, each one raising and loving a child.

This show of insensitivity on our part was in no way intended and we deeply apologize for any concern or distress we may have caused. It was always our intent to salute and celebrate all moms.

In closing, all of us at Teleflora would like to offer our sincerest best wishes to all the many women throughout the world who have worked so hard and given so much to earn the name "Mom."

Sincerely,
The America's Favorite Mom Team

Comments

[Esther]

I'm glad they sent you an apology.

[Lisa L]

OK, this whole thing has really pissed me off. Why should adoptive Mom's be in a different category at all?? Giving birth does NOT make someone a Mom. Fuck them.

[Susan]

Gotta say, I'm with Lisa L. on this one. I was pretty stunned to read that the president is herself an adoptive mom, and then see that the category is being kept the same. The "non" title was heinous, but keeping adoptive moms in the category with grandparents and step parents, and not simply with "moms," still makes pretty much the same statement!

[Susan]

PS> That said, it's still awfully cool that they made the change thanks to your email. Nice work!

[Lisa L]

I am a step mom and an adoptive mom and to ME, they are two different things. My step sons have a mom and so does my daughter...me. Don't get me wrong when I say it's different. I love the three of them equally...they are all my kids BUT the boys have a mom and I am not the same as her. As Susan said, even with what they have done by changing the category name, it still makes the same statement. Adoptive moms are MOM's and should not be categorized in any other way. I can't believe that the president/owner of Teleflora thinks this is ok???? Anyway, it's my first Mother's Day home with my daughter this year...last year we in Russia for Mother's Day but it was during our 10 day waiting period and I didn't get to spend the day with her. Happy Mothers Day to all of you Mom's and Mom's to be...especially those of you who are waiting for your child.

[Aunt Wendy]

I agree with Lisa L. There should be no category difference. If you are raising a child they are your's. It doesn't matter if it is grandma, adopted, foster. I was taught as a child of divorce that the people that you live with and take care of you are your parents. Just as in my family Alexandra has a father, but he is not her dad. Rich is the one raising her, he's the one that deals with the "crap". The teenage hormones, the good and bad attitudes etc. He is the one raising her. He's her dad. Just as your family are her aunts,uncles and grandparents. There is nothing more aggrevating to me than to have people say "well she's my grand-daughter by marriage" I've heard that way too many times! I made a decisive choice to have Alex call Rich dad as soon as possible, they are family, not stepdad and stepdaughter. Fight for the right to be called parent. Shouldn't matter to NBC how that family bond happened. Sorry for ranting. It's how I feel.
Happy Mom's day!

[Barelysane]

Wow - I have been away from the computer for a few days and I'm absolutely stunned. Even the response from these guys made me cringe because as it says, adoptive moms are "real moms in their children's eye" but why are we not real mom's in society's eyes???

I need to step away from this for a bit because at the moment, I am hot under the collar and I'm not sure an email would consist of much other than profanity at this moment.

Grrrr.