Mommy Business Cards

[Renew Deal]

Poll question: Mommy Business Cards

Lately I've received a couple business cards from people that say "Mommy Business Card. Ann Smith, mommy of Dick and Jane Smith.

What do you think about mommy business cards?

[CTyankee]

1. They're ok I guess if all you are doing is helping get your kid along socially.

I see this more of an upper middle class thing, mothers who have the means to stay at home as full time parents. I also see it as a manifestation of a woman who might have studied to be something in business, law or medicine and who now are full time mothers. They might feel a lack of status.

[Renew Deal]

3. You don't have to be "upper middle class" to be a stay at home mom.

People without the means might also keep a parent home because they don't want someone else raising their kid.

[CTyankee]

5. Yes, true, and esp. if one cannot get a job outside of the home.

[SharonAnn]

49. I've had cards made for women friends who are stay-at-home wives/mothers, Director of Operations

I figured that Director of Operations was an appropriate title.

I started doing this when one remarked she was envious when a store asked for all my information to deliver a mattress set and I just gave them my business card (I work at home now). She said it would be such a time-saver when she had to give someone her phone number, address, email address,etc.

So, for a Christmas present, I had cards made up for her with all that information one. She loved them!

"Chief Operating Officer" would also be a good title.

[onehandle]

2. I think everybody should have a business card these days.

We have a lot more identities than we used to.

It would save time.

[Electric Monk]

4. "Look at that subtle off-white colouring. The tasteful thickness of it."

[Renew Deal]

6. lol

Great Movie

[Tumbulu]

7. it is also a way to give your info to another parent

without giving all this info out about your work/profession- which you may be not at all interested in giving to other parents.

You can get these free from all sorts of places.

[petronius]

33. Makes sense to me. Avoids the hassle of writing, or typing into a cell phone,

or whatever - and it won't get lost as easily as a scrap of paper. I use my regular business cards in a similar way, but it does feel a bit strange in a purely social type exchange...

[Bozita]

8. Reminds me of those yellow "Baby on Board" signs

Never could figure out the purpose of those damn things.

[Renew Deal]

9. To drive carefully

I don't see those any more.

[meow mix]

12. "baby on board, who gives a fuck"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDs9rQRx0DI
:rofl:

[REP]

24. To warn others that the driver isn't paying any attention to the road

[customerserviceguy]

41. Oh, they're useful

I always try extra hard to avoid running into the vehicles that have one of these.

(do I even need the sarcasm thingy?)

[canetoad]

45. This is on my car

I did once hear a plausible reason for the baby on board signs; just say a car crashes off a cliff and the occupants are all thrown out of the vehicle. If there is a baby on board sign, the emergency workers know to look for it.

[Warpy]

10. Cards were printed up a century ago with a person's name on them

with title, if possible, and many with address. One presented one's card to the butler or maid and waited to be called in or declined.

I'm aroused to a frenzy of apathy by the reappearance of these things. They no longer hearken back to a more formal age because I sincerely doubt any of the card holders have staff, nor do they have announced "at home" days.

I suppose it's easier than scribbling one's phone number and email addy on a napkin when trolling for play dates.

[supernova]

11. There used to be "calling cards"

Every middle and upper class person had them, regardless of occupation. When you called at an address, you gave the servant or secretary (initially male, btw) your card, it had your name and address on it. Or as now, if you met in the street, you exchanged cards.

The idea is old, but yuck. being known primarily as "mom" to so and so just enshrines a step backward, methinks.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

13. you know, some women are proud of their service as moms

and it is NOT a step backward and to suggest so is anti-choice of you.

sP

[supernova]

14. Hey, if people want

to be known as their primary identity as living their lives through their children's social lives, that's fine with me. I'm saying I wouldn't do it.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

16. nope, you're calling it a step backward

and it is not about 'primary identity as living their lives through their childs' social lives' as you suggest. but nice job of demeaning motherhood and those who are proud of it.

sP

[supernova]

17. Hey, you can always put me on ignore

I'm much more about teaching kids independence.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

18. Nah, I have no one on ignore...

but you're wrong on this one. You miss the point again; it has nothing to do with independence. but you keep on digging for that negative connotation that might stick. You have now tried three...

sP

[supernova]

19. Nope

but keep trying.

:hi:

[ProdigalJunkMail]

20. You deny three tries at finding the negative? Interesting... n/t

[Odin2005]

35. What a disgusting insult to every stay-at-mom on the planet.

:puke:

[ProdigalJunkMail]

38. indeed...

I guess choice only counts if it is the choice THEY like...

sP

[Name removed]

39. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Iris]

47. oh, please.

overeact much?

EVERY stay-at-home mother on the planet?

[Renew Deal]

40. I don't think that's really what it's about.

I don't think it's about living their lives through their kids social lives. I think there's some pretense to it and some of it is convenience. I wouldn't go out of my way to make those cards, but I guess others do.

[REP]

25. Agree.

One's primary identity shouldn't be dependent upon having reproduced or relationship to another.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

so no one should carry a business card

because that is exactly what they show...your relationship to your company.

sP

[REP]

28. Sigh

Well, if you think being Senior Vice President is more than a title, have at it. If you think Graphic Designer is more than a job description, great. If you think having children is simply an occupation, well, okay.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

29. I was just echoing your sentiment

that no one should allow their identity to be expressed as a relation to another. But based on your other comments, I can see how much you love kids and people who are proud of them and their relationship to them...

Sigh all you you want. Your feelings are clear. You see something that is perfectly harmless and can be beneficial to the parents' desires to communicate information and you piss all over it...like so many on this board, you are about as negative as can be.

sP

[supernova]

34. Thank you

for getting it.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

37. yes, peas in a pod...both missing the point n/t

[sufrommich]

15. Maybe it's a good way for young Moms to get to know each other.

I don't have a problem with it.

[pnwmom]

21. Me, neither. Being a new at-home mother can be pretty isolating.

This is easier than trying to write each other's names on grocery receipts while trying to hang on to a small child.

[pnwmom]

22. Hey, it could be worse.

At least it's not

Alexia's Mommy
Mrs. Johnson

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

23. I have seen teenagers with business cards

High school, Cell phone number, facebook page etc. A pink playboy bunny silhouette seems particularly popular.

[REP]

26. Do they say "Daughter of Robert and Julie"?

[gkhouston]

31. It's that not unusual for parents you've only seen in passing to

remember you as "Julie's mom" and not as Mary.

[Chorophyll]

27. When my son was younger I ended up with other parents' phone

numbers on post-its, napkins, random scraps of paper. Cards would have been easier, but I somehow doubt I would get along very well with anyone who actually had them. ;)

[marybourg]

30. I have a "retired" card with phone #'s, e-mail. How else would

I remember all that?

[KittyWampus]

32. Great idea. I'm all for people connecting on any level they can. We need more of it, not less.

[customerserviceguy]

42. So, then

What's wrong with having one's name, phone number, email address, and physical address (if so desired) without the "mommy" stuff? Why should it make a difference to me if someone handing me their card has reproduced or not?

[KittyWampus]

44. Why does it bother you if someone does?

[petronius]

46. Now that you mention it, I notice there's no email address on the example in the OP

Avenues for direct person-to-person communication only - I like it! (And I agree with you.)

It seems that there are two basic mindsets in this thread: to some, business cards are markers of status and identity; to others, they are merely handy little tools to foster future communications...

[Odin2005]

36. Cool idea.

[TwilightGardener]

43. Stupid. I hate it when women identify themselves through

their husbands and children. Yuck.

[Iris]

48. ha! you know how it could be worse?

If there were an email address that was her husband's name!

[Name removed]

53. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[TwilightGardener]

55. Uh...OK. I have two kids. I don't call them that, but, whatever.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

61. exaggerate much?

[Liberal_in_LA]

50. defines the woman by her relationship to another person.

"mom to so and so" why don't I hand a card that says "sister to xxxx, friend to yyyy"

[LetTimmySmoke]

51. We're corporatizing the schools, why not the parents.

[Lucinda]

52. LOL...so much fuss.

:) Seems useful to me.

[Odin2005]

54. Some people think it's some attack of feminism, LOL.

:crazy:

[These Eyes]

56. Bizarre, isn't it?

Up until my son was about 10 years old, his classmates would refer to me as "Walter's mom". It didn't diminish me. Children often have a hard time remembering last names, especially if they are uncommon. Truth be told, I have a hard time remembering last names as well. The cards are just a way to connect the child with the parent in case you're making play dates, etc. Judging by the way some people have responded, motherhood should be something to be ashamed of.

[aaaaaa5a]

57. Ridiculous!

but hey, its a free country…. if people don't value being a mom to their children and don't view the job as important enough on its own merit, and thus need more validation for their lives… go right ahead and be foolish.

[Dappleganger]

58. It seems pretentious.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

59. I think these are stupid, but I think the complaints are even stupider

It is all about context, one could make a similar argument that your business card defines yourself by your relationship to your employer or perhaps one could say it is defining yourself by your personal chains of capitalist bondage.

It is all about context, passing these to a teacher, babysitter, coach or social contact could be appropriate.

[Blue-Jay]

60. Stupid.

[Unrepentant Fenian]

62. I guess if that is the sum total of your life. nt