To find this advert cringeworthy and a bit patronising?

[cool4cats2020]

Took my kids to the cinema yesterday (DS 8 and 10). Before the film this Tesco ad was played. We don't watch TV at home, so hadn't come across it before.

I'm a single parent, split up from my ex several years ago, and ex usually has the kids every other weekend for contact. We've generally got on pretty well and always put the kids first, quite often gone to events together and done birthdays and Christmas together for the kid's sake. But recently ex has gone right off the rails, and I've felt it necessary to suspend contact to protect the kids. So they're a bit fragile at the moment and cinema was a treat to help distract them.

Now I'm pretty thick skinned and not easily offended, but this ad made me want to curl up and die, and I can't imagine what my kids made of it. One minute it's showing that both parents are really uncomfortable and don't want to be doing it, the next they're all laughing together. The suggestion that some Tescos burgers can make everything ok between estranged parents and get them playing happy families would be comical if it weren't tragic.

I guess it's mostly separated/single parents who might see my POV here?

I’ve seen it on TV and dislike it immensely. I’m all for co operation between separated parents but this a very misguided advert with some very confused messaging (and I am nearly 30 years married)

I completely agree, it's in really poor taste and I was shocked when I saw it. Really bad judgement.

Yep! I can see your point. In fact I’d say supermarkets in general seem to be trying too hard to portray ‘life’ rather than simply advertise their food. Remember the Christmas one with the foster family? That was a rather flowery and unrealistic representation of what those kids and carers go through too. I say that as someone who’s stayed best friends with one ex and also had to change their name and avoid social media for years because of another,awful one.
I can see how this was awkward and jarring for you to watch next to the kids.
however, I think you’ll find that it bothered you more than the kids, they don’t tend to read into situations and compare things the way we do, their situation is the only one they know and therefore something like this short bit of film isn’t going to register as in any way similar. So, at least as far as they’re concerned you’re overthinking a little bit.
It sounds to me like you’ve got stuff going on and it’s a bit awkward for you ,you’ve chosen to protect them from something going wrong in his life which is just you being a good parent. So own that, don’t apologise for it and just explain in age appropriate ways the reasons if the kids ask. This is a naff advert that seems to be following this odd style of emotional advertising and it shouldn’t have got to you this much because the situation doesn’t represent yours. It has though, because you care a lot about your kids and thats okay.
hope things improve soon! I’ve been through hell and back with this stuff and it’s been a few years of drama-free life now and my oldest child is no worse for what she went through.

Well they’re still awkward at the end

If my ex wanted to have a barbecue with me I’d tell him to f* off

Hate it. Just sell us some decent food at a decent price and stop trying to pretend you care.

I've seen this ad a few times on TV but didn't realise they were separated. Obviously I hadn't thought why he was at the door. You're right though op it isa horrible advert and not representative of most estranged couples.

I took a strong dislike to this ad too
Just bizarre

Yes, it's a horrible advert, thought up by some patronising idiot who has no experience of trying to co-parent with someone uncooperative.

I think they are trying to be funny but the result is just insulting. I don't know who I find more at fault, the ad agency for coming up with something so crass, or Tesco Marketing who presumably chose it from a number of options.

Either way, it certainly doesn't make me want to buy their horrid food.

😂

You and me both, love.

It's such a strange and tactless advert!

I disliked this ad too. I could write a massive long post about why its so wrong. but I'll leave it at, Fuck off tesco. Twats.

^ this

Omg I HATE this advert. I was watching a series on ITV and every break it came up and I’ve decided to not watch it until this advert is off the tv. I literally can’t STAND it.
it makes my teeth itch and there is just sooooooooooo much wrong with it.

I had the same reaction as other posters. It’s an awful advert!

Hate it. Found it incredibly patronising. And really misguided.

Also I’ve been with my partner for 20 years so it’s not just separated parents that hate this.
it’s so misguided and ridiculous.
Also in the still you’ve just posted, I keep thinking she looks like a broken woman. Why’s she so keen so go to the super market with him. Why’s he so bloody cheery. The music and the disorienting filming when he’s cooking make it feel like a horror film.
can you tell I really hate it

So glad I'm not the only one who thinks this advert is weird, patronising and creepy.

I’ve never seen this before but he is so happy and she so downtrodden pissed off looking. It’s an odd advert that’s for sure !

Not a great advert. Tesco have definitely got it wrong here.

Wtaf? Oh my god, that is an awful advert. Tesco's food isn't that great either.

The McCain chips ones annoys me too, like everything is better after eating some oven cooked potatoes.

Bring back the Bisto adverts

I know exactly the advert u mean without looking at the link and yes I also found it cringey . It reminded me of why I hated the Railway Children as a bereaved child because the supposedly dead father came back! Imagine watching that when my father died when I was 6 ? It's giving a false message to children of divorced parents . I agree with you .

This advert made me physically recoil. As a child of divorced parents, it literally gave me flashbacks 😂 it's so, so, so awful.

I'm fed up with most ads these days. Ads that virtue signal, ads that are so esoteric I have no flipping clue what they are advertising, ads that tell me nothing about the cost, ads that try to be funny and aren't, ads that advertise something and then say the spec is different in the UK[?] . Ads with famous people living in a white/blue house ,wearing similar clothes and letting their kid smear paint over them so that the absolutely wonderful washing liquid can return the clothes to 'as new'. Ads trying to pretend we are all perfect! No! I'm not!!!
Sorry for the rant, but facts please,not dreams.

My OH hardly notices adverts but he said it was an awful creepy advert.
I notice it's heavily edited now so it just seems like a family bbq.

What a strange advert. If only it were that simple!
Sometimes it’s actually in the best interests of the child for the parents NOT to be together.