NOW CLOSED Take a look at Fiat's viral video "The Motherhood" and tell us what motherhood means to you - there's a £200 Mamas & Papas voucher to be won!

[KatieBMumsnet]

In anticipation of the launch of the new Fiat 500L next year, the folks at Fiat have released a video showcasing what motherhood is like for one woman. Here's what they say: "We hope that by exaggerating the reality of embracing a new life stage in this viral will raise a knowing smile from mums everywhere."

Please take a couple of minutes of your time (well 3.12 to be precise) to and come back to this thread to tell us your thoughts on the joys of motherhood. Are there any parts in the video that you feel sum you up? Was there anything you particularly related to? What line do you think is missing from the song? We know this may not be everyone's cup of tea, so if you don't think this portrays motherhood in your eyes, what does? How would you describe how being a mum makes you feel? What are the highs and lows of life post children vs life before?

We want to know how Mumsnetters describe motherhood, so please add your comments below.

Everyone who adds a comment to this thread will be entered into a prize draw where one winner will receive a £200 Mamas & Papas voucher.

Thanks and good luck with the prize draw!

MNHQ

[weenwee]

I know this nearly guarantees I won't get picked, but

WTF FIAT.

Did they talk to any women, at all, before making this?

1. Yes, model-looks and put together woman, I totally believe you are a beleaguered mum. Totally. /snark
   

1. White men can't jump, and public school women can't rap. Oy.
   

1. 'Orgasm faker'? Dafuq? Check yourself with that tired, sexist bull.
   

1. If you choose to be bottom of the totem pole, that's on you, random commercial lady. I have a 2 year old, a husband, and go to grad school full time for my MBA (and am really wishing right now that I hadn't just finished my marketing project, I'd have had a FIELD day with this.)
   

1. And finally, since this is a commercial: You are selling a car the hypothetical woman's family cannot fit into all at once. In fact, if I go to your site for the specs on this "pimpmobile", it never actually says how many it seats it has (bearing in mind each of those kids would need to be in their own car/booster seat). The only car that theoretically would fit this family within H&S needs would be the Fiat Doblo. If you are going to sell something (not pretend you aren't selling it with this totes dope rap, yo), you should at least show the children safely strapped into the car at some point.
   

I don't know who did your market segmentation or matrix on this one, but dearie me, this was BAD.

[anklebitersmum]

Thought the ad was humerous although it over-reaches lyrically as regards the 'crime' and 'orgasm faking'. Nothing more fitting, really? Personally I prefer for originality-and the car shown fits umpteen children.

All in all I like Fiat though and as a second car for nipping to and fro it would work for me as long as hubby was elsewhere (3 in the back, eldest in the front).

[SomethingAboutNothing]

I liked the video, it was funny and I'm sure it'll get people talking.

As for what motherhood means to me, well, 3 months in, it seems to mostly mean sleep deprivation, becoming used to whipping my boobs out in public while trying to be discreet, cleaning up explosive poo situations, cuddles on the sofa while he sleep, watching him learn new things and getting excited by every new noise he makes/thing he does. It also seems to mean spending my whole day looking after him only for him to give daddy the biggest smiles of the day as he walks in the door.

It's wonderful and stressful and exhausting and amazing all together. I just hope I get some sleep soon!

[Hopezibah]

this is my second attempt at giving feedback on this as annoyingly the computer crashed after I had typed loads in before so will try to be quick but answer all the feedback q's.

I liked the video overall. Not as great as the mom song that went viral a few years back - that one really had me laughing a lot.

Things i could relate to is the comparing c-scars / episiotomies, the messy kitchen, grubby laptop etc.

I didn't particularly like the style of music but could see why they were doing it like that and as a 'joke' / fun aspect it works ok.

worst thing about motherhood is when kids are ill and you can't make them better. Best thing is you realise how much more enriched life is now we have kids that we can't remember life before children. Miss the freedom of holidays / travel as that is harder nowadays.

[neriberi]

I think this is hilarious!

[BassAce]

As a mother of a 2 year old and a 6 month old I found this ad hilarious. Very true on so many levels, and had me grinning and immediately reaching for the mouse to forward on to other mummy friends.

What does motherhood mean to me? Dividing myself into multiple pieces for multiple children, and yet still managing to be a bigger and better version of my original old self in the eyes of each of them. That's the magic of motherhood.

[LapsedPacifist]

I'm many years passed the baby stage and I still found it really funny! Loved the 'Bitches and the Hose'!

It makes a refreshing change to see the tough side of motherhood (episiotomy stitches anyone?) being portrayed so frankly and with humour at the same time.

Agree the marketing folk hadn't done their homework though. Car too small for the family, mum far too thin and well-groomed (and young) for the role.

[ThinkAboutItOnBoxingDay]

Needs to be a bit more tongue in cheek. I agree the production values are a bit weird.

A very positive representation of a single mum i thought, assuming that's why she has to do it all herself. Amazed the Daily Mail aren't up in arms about this?

[Doogle2]

I liked it. Reminded me of 'The Mom Song' on u-tube.

Although motherhood has its ups and downs I would describe it, for me, as feeling complete.

[ProfYaffle]

It made me feel quite old! I guess it's aimed at younger Mothers still in the baby/toddler stage, I am neither of those things now so couldn't really relate to it.

I thought the idea of 'The Motherhood' was quite witty, as were some of the lyrics. Agree with some earlier points though, it's overly negative and I'm a bit uncomfortable with her being portrayed as a drudge.

The kids were great though, they made it for me.

[HandbagCrab]

I really hope the posters saying how hilarious this is are simply keeping their eyes on the prize

[Djembe]

FloatyBeatie your second paragraph - that, right there. I'd quote but am on iPhone app and can't.

It's this year's craze, empathising with us poor downtrodden women who put everyone before ourselves or summat.

It annoys me. It seems to suit the ad-men to portray us as long-suffering and it seems pretty anti-feminist. It's a step ahead to recognise all the work involved, but where is the main stuff, the love and laughter? It would have been easy to include a scene of them all doing something silly like dancing around hairbrushes or something then mum collapsing exhausted with the fish fingers in the kitchen.

There is so much love, joy and humour that could have been included - I get that the humour is in the negative stuff, but it's IMO treading a fine line by stereotyping the role of a mother and making her look like she has an utterly shit life.

This style of rap does focus on negatives, but it will always include the 'ho's in the back' or whatever as an example of how good the bloke's life is. It's a woman here and the positive stuff is completely left out because it doesn't fit with an ad-man's view of what it must be like to spend all day with kids at home. The silly stuff is ridiculously fun and rewarding. Just like ho's for actual gangsters / men.

As Floaty said, it doesn't make me identify with Fiat!

I'd be curious to know whether she is meant to be a single mum or if it's just showing a woman whose husband does nowt.

Also - whoever linked the Parent Rap on youTube - this ad is a blatant ripoff of it and nothing like as good, it manages to be hilarious but still heartwarming, and includes the man as an equal parent. Loved it.

[ProfYaffle]

"The silly stuff is ridiculously fun and rewarding" totally agree with this, which is why the kids made the video for me, they looked like they were having fun. There didn't seem to be much in the way of interaction between the Mum and the kids, she could have shared in their joyfulness.

[Suffolkblush]

I LOVE it! A totally tongue-in-cheek, satirical look at motherhood, genuis.

Think a lot of people are

A: Taking this whole thing far too seriously - this is almost definietly NOT the actual Fiat 500L advert, it's a marketing stunt aimed at capuring the attention of a certain audience.
B: Not getting the purposful juxtapostion of the rapping v's prep mum. They're not supposed to match, in fact I'd be willing to put money (or vouchers!) on the fact that the model is miming to a pre-recorded voice and was choosen for being the exact opposite of that voice.

I totally related to it and I loved the actress, her massive overacting and facial expressions are brilliant. Yes our 'real' homes are ten times more messy, we have unbrushed hair, proper puke stains, bigger tummies and crisp/raisin filled handbags (or sacks to be more accurate) but that's the point, it's not supposed to be a depiction of reality.

As for me, motherhood is everything you don't expect it to be. It's more challenging, confusing, frustrating, difficult and at times debilitating than anything else I've ever done. But then it's also the most rewarding, emotionally fulfilling and wonderful experience I'll ever have.

In the end motherhood does make you part of a very special club - you can't quite pin the meaning of motherhood down, but it's something that EVERY mummy knows.

[garlicbaubles]

HAH! I love it! It could be a Mumsnet commercial Did you consult on it?

[Hulababy]

I like it :)
Love the car too :)

I have a white Fiat 500 (although a convertible). Perfect for me, and as our second car. I've even managed to fit a pushchair in the boot once, and car seats in the back. Most of the time it's just me and DD though, who is old enough to sit in the front and tall enough for no car seat. We regularly fit 3 children and me in it too though, at least once a week. And I can fit a full shop in the boot too. Fab car - it's my second too. Traded my first in for the convertible version.

[Hulababy]

Oooh - hadnt' realised it was a 5 door, 5 seater version though.
Mine is the original type - so just two seats in the back.

[Selky]

All the way through, I was thinking, "What is the point of this? That car is too small for the amount of kids she has. It is not immediately obvious that it is a 5 door. I like some of the ryhyming. Anyone who is making "episiotomy stitches" scan is OK with me.

The joys of motherhood are very fleeting smiles, cuddles etc.. They don't translate well to adverts.

I think it is more for new mums/ 1st time mums of babies. Those on their 3rd can work miracles compared to 1st timers.

The only time a drove a Fiat I stalled it 37 times in an hour, incidentally.

[fallingandlaughing]

What does motherhood mean to me - well it is hard to sum up isn't it? Being a mother means everything to me, hard to say that without sounding martyrish, but it is true. It is hard work of course, but life alterning and enhancing beyond anything I could have imagined.

It also means eating left over fish fingers but that is a good thing in my book cos I love them!

Video wasn't bad though I couldn't really identify with the Mum in it - I would love to have lovely hair like that but when I am leaving for work at 7am it is dry shampoo or wet hair under a hat!

Do endorse the idea of the whole new level of exhaustion you don't know about til you are a parent!

[Hulababy]

I guess motherhood comes down to the feeling/knowledge of
Unconditional love for and from another person.

[easterbaby]

It was a fun take on motherhood! I couldn't take the content too seriously...although I guess they are painting an extreme characterisation. I drive a Fiat 500 and it is surprisingly roomy/practical with one baby. Not sure I could squeeze 3 in, but maybe this new model is bigger.

[ShakySingsMerryXmasEveryone]

I quite liked it. I could identify with a lot of it.

Very jealous that I have never looked that good since childbirth though

[FunnysFuckingFreezing]

not my experience of motherhood at all. You need to show a mother rushing in the door at 6pm dressed in a suit with barely enough energy to put her children to bed. Thats me

[sausagesandwich34]

one of my teenage staff summed it up for me today

he asked me what I wanted for christmas and I said nothing really, christmas isn't about me

his reply.....

'aw, that's such a mum thing to say! Mums never want anything for themselves, they run around making sure everyone else is happy but they never want anything back in return, just a big cuddle and a brew'

yup, pretty much sums it up for me even if I am knackered, it was a very sweet thing to hear and it made me a bit teary

[magentastardust]

I quite liked it -raised a few laughs and I liked the cheese grater , peacemaker bit at the end.
I am a mum of three and whilst Im nowhere near that thin I am that groomed
Motherhood for me means thinking about others all the time -you can't just get up and wander into the shower , you have to get 3 other people up dressed, showered , fed etc etc, homework , school projects , constant washing , ironing and tidying there really aren't enough hours in the day to do everything you need to do well.

However it also means lots of laughs , lovely cuddles and sharing in the lives of the amazing little people you have made and seeing them develop into their own person.
Motherhood is exhausting and emotional and amazing and brilliant all rolled into one