I’m pretty sure most of you will have seen the new John Lewis Christmas tv ad, which aired this weekend. This is not a sponsored post. Geeeeeeze, stop with your bloody cynicism.
D and I saw this advert and well, we both blubbed a little. Now, it should be stressed that I do not cry at such things. Although, the last thing I cried at was when we finally got to the end of watching Prison Break recently, and we found out what happens to Burrows and Schofield. Damn. Those two guys are hawt.
Anyway, I don’t do crying at stuff, it’s just not me. Am I unemotional? Far from it. I have my moments. But I’m also aware of real life, and how most tv is utter bollocks. Including adverts. (Prison Break, however, is entirely real, so shut your mouth.) It took me a second to figure out why D and I were both pretending why we had something in our eyes, both of us being so down to Earth and all, and then D said it.
“That’s exactly what Noah would do.”
Jesus, the man done hit the nail on the proverbial head.
I was gobsmacked by the amount of cynicism with which the advert was met on twitter. I totally get those who weren’t moved by it (see previous paragraphs) but then there were tweets that actually made me quite sad. Including:
only cos it’s fairytale parenthood. Life ain’t perfect girlie, is it?
and also (upon saying I wanted to blog about it):
[...] I feel MURDEROUS when I watch it [...] can’t be doing with the schmaltzy stuff – how did he get to town, buy, sneak home, wrap, etc
So. Why so sad at something so seemingly staged (it’s a filmed advert, after all)? It’s obvious. If you live with Noah.
It’s the sort of thing he would do. It’s the sort of thing he’s already tried to do.
Last year, Noah wanted to make a cake for his dad’s birthday. Only, he realised that Daddy’s birthday was around the corner and he was going to have to exercise his resources. So he made one out of Stickle Bricks of his own accord, and presented it to his Daddy later on. “Surprise, Daddy! I made you a cake.”
When his Uncle and new Aunty got married back in September, he saw that they had been given presents on the day. On his arrival back at home, he asked me if he could make them something to give as a gift; he created one hell of a work of art (unknown to them, or anyone else but myself since he had to ask for the bits and pieces) and asked me to give it to the couple when I saw them next. When asked “why don’t you do it, Noah?” came the reply “because I’ll be at school, Mommy, and I can’t get to their house on my own. You will see them won’t you Mommy?”
In the car whilst rushing around from place to place sorting out life in general, we stopped and got both boys a McD’s Happy Meal each. Emptied the nuggets and fries into the box and passed one to Noah. He took one nugget and passed the box to Isaac; his assumption was to share the food with everyone. He looked mildly confused when we told him that box was just for him.
I hate to sound like that barfy dreamed-drugged parent whom every body hates, but the sort of stuff in that John Lewis advert does happen in our house. Fairytale parenthood? Maybe. Fairytale for some, not us. Schmaltzy? To some. Not to us. Actually, it’s quite normal for us in this house. Resourceful little boy? Yep. If Noah wants to do something, much like his stubborn mother, once he’s put his mind to it, he’ll do it. He’ll figure a way. It’s only because he hasn’t fully realised the extent to which he could go, I suspect, why he hasn’t yet gone all out.
D and I cried suddenly had itchy eyes because to us, the advert was real. We’ve seen it for real. I’m not going to sit here and judge in a holier than thou fashion, and say that other parents should have children who behave like this. On the contrary; there are kids who are gorgeous and thoughtful and stunningly delightful in just about every way I could think of, and more. But. I love this advert for making me realise how beautiful Noah’s actions actually are. Seeing it on tv like that, not necessarily enhanced, just condensed, gave D and I a very real snapshot of what we live with.
Cheesy? Possibly. Fairytale? Maybe.
All very real to us though.
