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

I liked it but thought they missed a trick by not showing a sleep deprived mother snoozing in MacDonalds car park letting her drive through meal food take away go cold uneaten because her insommniac baby has finally gone to sodding sleep.

I didn't like the video - I found it came across quite fake, almost mocking, I'm not sure. it just didn't sit right and only seem to get worse. Like others, I'm not sure who they are attempting to target, especially as we barely see the car, but things like 'faking orgasm' is not something you should associated with a product you are trying to sell. Seriously. Why would you put that in there? Why are they never seen actually using the car to get anywhere? And where was the joy in there? GAH the ad put me right off - the whole schtick has been done so much better already.

The joys of parenthood are having the kids saying I love you so much after a really tiring day of trying to help them towards independence in life while they fight against it and each other after bad nights with the cacophony of colds while managing relationships and work. But DH is the main carer, particularly at night, so he's probably the better person to ask even if missing from the video.

Whilst I can relate to some of the lyrics, and thought they were funny, I couldn't relate to the actress at all. She did not look like the mother of three children and was far too well made up, and I just didn't believe in her.

Trying to put motherhood into a few lines always sounds trite, but it's made me happier than anything else, and gives me the greatest joy, even when it's hard.

While it was funny to an extent, it was also patronising. Felt a little bit like the makers were going "let's have a laugh at the expense of the middle-class mummies".
It did nothing to make me desire the car it's supposed to be advertising - I couldn't even tell you what it looked like other than "maybe red".

Motherhood is a lot more than a bunch of cliches and snide jokes.

I thought its amusing but she'd drive a 4x4 Chelsea tractor in the burbs...

It's not 'a viral' if you tell us it's a viral Fiat. It's a viral if it goes viral without a million dollar marketing campaign behind it. And there's no real shots of the car - is it really as ugly as people are saying? Its such an obvious attempt to shoehorn a fantastic product into the wrong market. Motherhood to me means not buying stuff that doesnt work for my family just because some marketeer tells me to! (I'm a Fiat 500 owner btw, but it's not our only car, it couldn't be)

I found it mildly amusing, and frankly yes I have been variously covered in snot, vomit and poo. Clearly I'm doing something wrong!

However I just feel a bit 'targeted'. It's t

First thoughts - they should have picked someone who looked more like a mother than a model, then the complaints about her body and dieting would have seemed more appropriate.

Sorry - fat fingers!

It's too obvious.

Motherhood is nothing like I ever thought it to be. When I come in from the car carrying 2 lunch boxes, teddies, coats and other crap under my arms, or have to say "please don't sniff each others bottoms" I wonder at what happened to my life.

But then the toddler falls asleep on my shoulder, heavily breathing in my ear, or the 5 year old asks where the first people came from and you realise how much richer your life is for having them.

Oh I may never go on an exotic holiday or have a flat crepe-free stomach again. But if I'd not had kids I'd never know what it is like to feed a child with my own body or run around soft play as an adult. And absolutely no one thinks I am as funny as my two year old.

I think the ad is a bit of a white, male, middle-class, advertising exec's view of motherhood. It is quite amusing but doesn't at all reflect the reality of parenting. And as Fillybuster said where's the Dad? It's all a bit saccharine and looks like a lot of mess has been thrown into an immaculate house set. Most of the mess of families is not just cosmetic but things like month-old cobwebs hanging from the walls, stains that won't come out of the carpets, pet food and discarded dirty clothes strewn across the floor etc...(or is it just that I'm alone in being a slattern?). And yes by the time you get to your third child you are beyond reporting anything about them to anyone!

Also the Mum looks incredibly well-kempt for a mother of three, including a small baby. I have no doubt that some Mums do seem to keep up their self-care standards with motherhood but would also think they are the same ones who would have immaculate houses too.

The car looks trendy but I can't imagine that it would naturally be right for most families unless it is the run around for Mum/Dad with the occasional use by some of the children too (is it big enough for three car seats at the back - I would be very surprised if it is?). It is Mini-esque in it's design which is good though.

to me motherhood means always considering the children in all decisions made. Lots of love and hugs but never really switching off from them. A box of delights mixed with Pandora's Box really !

maybe there isn't a dad. not all families have them you know

you can't represent everyone's idea of the whole of motherhood. god knows there's enough of the hallmark, i live to serve, my happiness is purely derived from selfless acts of maternal love type advertising and portrayal of motherhood.

i think people are being very harsh. this will reflect a lot of women's 'need' to do the gallows humour/letting off steam/countering the mother theresa act side of things.

i think that's it actually - the dark humour/piss take as stress release. lots of us need it.

I was resisting clicking on this as my life is too busy for marketing shite but I thought it was spot on!!

Now sell me a car that'll fit my 4 kids in the back.

Motherhood has ups and downs, the downs for me with my second child were very hard as I had a thyroid infection- look up 'thyroid storm' and you will see it is not fun on top of having all the usual difficulties of having a toddler and a new baby. People do not not understand why you are a bit ratty! sooo.. I found it funny, but it also reminded me of the enormously hard struggle I had with life. I had to go back to work after months of no sleep, difficulty breathing, chest pain, mood imbalance, neck ache, bad relationships with those people who did not understand (for example.... relatives thought it was funny when I was irritable, so they thought it would be funny to wake up my children who had flu at my in-laws house, by playing the piano so I would get annoyed and they laughed!). I think the lack of sleep is funny- if it is just normal lack of sleep from being up doing nappies or breast feeding. I coped well with my first child, things were fantastic and I would have laughed my head off at this video. But with my most recent experience I am worried that it could hit a sore spot for some people who maybe have depression or suffer from thyroid difficulties. I am lucky, my problem was short term, I feel normal again. thyroid infection is unusual but pregnancy can cause thyroid hormone imbalance. Rant over

The video is good and does some up the change in identity that is very significant for some people. The car would be fine when the kids are older but is not large enough for all the paraphernalia that comes with babies and toddlers. I think for me the cot was not a focal point as both children slept in our bed, putting an end to any 'faking of orgasms' the toys all over the house would have been a better line. I do like the tractor and digger line! Work versus home is bang on. However I never smell or smelled of puke and find that a bit off. I breast fed but did not express- found it a ridiculous procedure so stopped breast feeding when I went back to work. As for 'the bitches at my side' our dogs went to stay with others; as, though I loved them dearly, with two small kids the dogs would have been neglected- with no time to wipe my own a** let alone pick up the dog mess! Left over fish fingers is about right and tight with postman pat- love it. My body got smaller very fast due to overactivity of my thyroid so I can't relate to that or the cake maker. I also don't think many mums would have time for a book club- unless it was online with mumsnet!

Well my time is up, as my kids are awake and the house is now a complete wreck as I have been sitting here typing, lego to build, polly pocket to make - piece of cake!

horray dads awake and building lego! I meant to add.. I love the look on her face when she eats the cold fish fingers!

Also.. being a mother is fantastic but be prepared, not just a saying for the girl guides! always have spare clothes! Dont expect to have any time to do things you want to- they will have to wait for when you retire!

I thought it was just ghastly. The worst type of motherhood stereotyping. Yummy Mummy who fakes orgasms, now that's something to aspire to .

That was a whole lot more accurate than I though it would be! That is pretty much a tame version of the conversations I have with my mother friends. I enjoyed it! Thanks, Fiat.

I LOVE this video - made me laugh. 'Joined a book club so I can drink some wine' was a good line - I also loved the 'I would welcome you but you can never leave' bit.
I do think the 'orgasm faker' line was a bit odd - something else to rhyme with nit raker could have been found?
Also liking the idea of Fiat 500 in a 5 door version - I have a Toyota Aygo atm - which does the job but Fiat is much sexier, have been eyeing it up and a bit that so impractical in a 3 door. Not going to be in the market for a new car for quite a while though!

Motherhood for me? Lost boobs (dropped 2 cup sizes), waving goodbye to my flat tummy, much less time for dh, having yummy cuddles at the end of a long day, being able to fix most things with a kiss.

I love this video :o very accurate lyrics, but not sure that they can convince me that a Fiat 500 is a good family car.

Motherhood for me means serious sleep deprivation, and the ability to utterly adore someone even when they are irritating the HELL out of you.

Quite liked the video and loved the lyrics, didn't find her very convincing though. With the incredible-non-sleeping-18-month-old-DS2 I very much relate to 'I'd sell both kidneys just to get some rest'.

Motherhood to me means exhaustion, sleep deprivation, constant negotiation. It also means love - I have never known such all consuming love and it still catches me unawares how much I love my boys.

I haven't read many of the other comments, but, though the video and song are mildly amusing the woman does not look remotely stressed or sleep deprived (though I guess that would make the video less attractive).

My first thought though is that you'd never get 3 car seats across the back of a Fiat 500, so one of the kids must have to go in the front, and if she has a partner they must have to travel separately... Mistake to put 3 kids in the video? Nobody would buy a Fiat 500 having just had a 3rd baby...

It amused me greatly. The only thing I objected to was the compulsory breastfeeding line.

I can't warm to the mother, she just doesn't fit the role comfortably. It feels forced. I can relate to most of the content though and so can see why some woud find this funny.

Motherhood to me is hard to sum up in words. I do however, wonder how I ever thought I was happy before I had them :-)

I don't like the references to infant feeding which seem unnecessary confused and divisive, I don't like the way it simultaneously implies mothers are required to sacrifice themselves completely, the complete absence of the father/fathers (though i'm sure in this context they'd be introduced in a sexist role) and also normalises being downtrodden and resentful about this role.

Also, on another note can I just say how much I absolutely cannot stand advertising which a. Doesn't actually tell you anything at all about the product that is being sold and b. is desperately trying to "reach out" to certain kinds of people the company has identified as likely to buy the product. It makes me think there is nothing good about the product if you have to ignore it completely in the advert and instead try to make it "cool" within a social group.