Why didn't they do this decades ago?

[ifIwerenotanandroid]

This is the second company I've had an email from, offering to not bother me with Mother's Day messages as they know it can upset some people.

When did this start? Is it only because of Covid? Because I found Mother's Day difficult for decades. I went NC with my FOO in my twenties, & I had a MIL who was a PITA. My feelings about the concept/reality of 'family' were very raw - life is soooo much easier now. I could've done without all the adverts & hoo-hah back then. I don't give a damn about it now. They can bombard me with all the pictures of flowers, cakes & cards they like & it's just water off a duck's back: the benefits of ageing & healing are great.

For the uninitiated:
NC = No Contact
FOO = Family Of Origin
PITA = Pain In The Ass

I've had a couple this year too and have never had them before. I was thinking it's due to the huge number of mums, grans, sons and daughters that have died from covid and covid related illness since last Mother's day :(

Not that they are sadly lost every year of course, but death has touched a lot more in the past year.

Last year a couple of companies started doing this (I know Bloom and Wild did), and they were praised for it in the press. Obviously it's spread this year. Personally I think it's excellent - I find Mother's Day quite tricky since my DM died about 6 years ago, so it's nice to switch it all off.

#cynicalert

they do it because it makes them look good "look at how thoughtful we are"

some shitty schmaltzy message doled out via email...max return for absolutely no effort really

being thoughtful is just the new marketing bandwagon.

Why don't they do this for Christmas too?. I'd love to opt out of all of that nonsense too.

It's something that baby loss charities have been involved in.

Bereaved parents can find Mothering Sunday exceptionally hard - worse than Christmas

I had one from Photobox yesterday and last year too. It's a good idea. Although cynically it probably stops them getting lots of people unsubscribing completely.

Tesco did it for Valentine's Day this year.

It's for the snowflake crew.

@Clymene

Tesco did it for Valentine's Day this year.

It's for the snowflake crew.

Yep! We've turned into a nation of weaklings who need to be protected from anything that could possibly upset or offend.

The last two posts are absolutely disgusting

I've had them for a few years.

Yes it may be a marketing ploy, but it's actually a kind gesture.

It's not being a snowflake to be upset by something, just because your standard of hurt is different to someone else's doesn't make them any less valid, just like problems, just because it seems small to you doesn't mean it feels like a Blackmore to someone else!

Blackhole not Blackmore damned autocorrect and failure to proofread.

I’ve had similar emails from companies for a few years, it’s not new but maybe more companies are sending them now

I noticed ‘no Father’s Day’ emails first and these more recently.

Six years ago my DD died the Thursday before Mother’s Day. The exact date of Mother’s Day changes each year but each year it stings with the memory.
I would love to avoid it if I could. Not because I am a ‘snowflake’ but because I have lived through the most unimaginable pain.

Ocado are doing it for Mother's Day and Father's Day.

I enquired about why they weren't doing it for Valentine's Day (because I'm a snowflake 🙄)

The agents had no idea about the Mother's Day and Father's Day so they hadn't bothered to train their staff!

Wow this thread turned nasty. Calling people snowflakes because reminders of Mother's Day triggers their grief for their mothers or their children.

You can't sink much lower than that.

Yes, nasty comments there.

The fact is that technology and improvements companies have had to make with GDPR means your marketing preferences can be more personalised and relevant. They are letting their customers know that.

It benefits the company as you can stay subscribed to their marketing but not be upset by some of it and it benefits the customer as they can choose to avoid certain campaigns.

The use of the word "snowflake" here is just disgusting tbh.

@IHateCoronavirus

Six years ago my DD died the Thursday before Mother’s Day. The exact date of Mother’s Day changes each year but each year it stings with the memory. I would love to avoid it if I could. Not because I am a ‘snowflake’ but because I have lived through the most unimaginable pain.

I'm so sorry.

It feels presumptuous to offer any advice, but may I suggest the idea of making Mother's Day a special time to remember your daughter, if that would help? Run towards the day, as it were, rather than avoiding it, & remember what made her special & your love for one another. Commemorate her in whatever way seems appropriate to you.

All the best.