Backseat Activities

I am well aware that, in the past, I have been less than patient with the ridiculous number of pandering and arrogant PSA’s that litter my talk radio throughout the day.  It is appalling how many times there is someone coming through my speakers, telling me how to live, how to eat, that I should adopt, how to be a better parent, etc., etc., etc.  Most of the time I try very hard to tune them out before I start a rant in my head about how idiotic they are.

But once in a blue moon, one comes along that is so clever, it demands your attention.  This ad for “anchor, tether, latch” – making sure that your carseats are properly seated in your car – is one such ad.  Give it a listen: (really, go listen… it’s worth it. I’ll wait…)

Backseat Things Ad

The first time I heard this, I tuned it out until the little boy yells, “Farting!!”  That kind of grabs your attention.  I wanted to hear it again, but of course, it’s an ad, not a CD, and I couldn’t hit “repeat”.  So I vowed to listen again.  And it happened about six times like that, until I had trained my ear to listen for that little kid’s voice, and once I did, I laughed out loud.  It’s a very clever ad. I wish ALL PSA’s were like this one.

So why am I writing this?  Not just to publicly praise the Ad Council for finally getting it right, although they do deserve praise – they have so little success.  No, it’s because of the personal connection it has to my life.

Did it remind me to make sure that Josh’s carseat is seated properly? Nope, he’s in a booster.

It reminded me to check the actual backseat of the truck.  And here’s what I found:

Yep.  Those are boogers, smeared ALL OVER the armrest on his door. Homeboy’s* got some serious cleaning to do…

*this phrase inspired by Pioneer Woman’s posts on Charlie, her misbehaving basset hound.