***Content or other value provided by our sponsor, Swiffer. All opinions contained there in are original content of Momma Told Me 2013.
Momma Told Me: I do it because I love you.
For the past several months I have seen some engaging print and digital media ads revolving around P
andG's 'Everyday Effect' campaign. At first, it was hard to place exactly what this 'everyday effect' was. The brands prompts urged consumers to consider how the small choices, and acts, we do every day, impacts our lives and the lives of those around us. Do you place your sweetie's wet shoes by the heater every night to make sure they're nice and toasty the following morning? Do you stop by the grocery store on your way home to grab a few essentials for the elderly neighbor next door? Do you cook with organic ingredients, despite the rising cost, simply to keep your family happy and healthy? Do you check the fluid levels in your car before going on a long road trip? There are so many things we do every day, not because we enjoy them, but because the impact is so much greater than the effort. And that's the Everyday Effect.
As far as parents go, I had it pretty good. I won't lie, many of my awesome child entertaining skill come from things Momma or Pop did with me as a child. Small things that had a big impact. Like Pop's inspirational Sharpie notes on the inside seams of Rice Krispies wrappers, at lunchtime. Or how Momma would walk the long route to the mailbox, during the Summer, just so I could spend that little extra time outdoors. This Summer I'm watching 3 children for the month of July, and I make an effort everyday to make the everyday tasks all the more special. I cut the watermelon into fun shapes, I meticulously comb the floor for tripping hazards and forgotten toys, and I'm sure to always have an ice cold bottle of water waiting for each at the end of play time. The Everyday Effect is kids taking just a little bit longer to chew and enjoy their food, injury free and organized play time, and well hydrated kiddos for more adventure to follow. Even the simple things, we do without blinking, can have a longer impact than the immediate event.
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Much like with children, The Everyday Effect is profound with the elderly. No matter how independent, the older we get, as humans, the more arduous even the simplest of tasks can seem. Just because we age, does not mean the dust thins, or the floors begin cleaning themselves! My father's parents have been married 56 years, and have always been the model of love and marriage for me. Not only did they wed before their twenties, but they have raised a beautiful family, and curated a marriage for others to envy. Whenever they visit, or I have the fortune to visit them, I marvel at the way they tackle their everyday tasks. My grandpa does more 'cheering' than cleaning, though he's never far behind my dutiful grandmother as she insists on dusting even the highest nick-knacks. While both are very set in 'traditional' ways, we've introduced a few innovations over the years to help make their daily chores less arduous.
Much like the 90 year-old couple in the video below, my own grandmother finds substantial benefits in the improvement of Swiffer products over classic cleaning aids. I still recall the first time she threw out the old, heavy, mop and bucket for her Swiffer Wet Jet. We heard about it for weeks; suddenly, us 'youngins' simply had to have one too. The amount of time she saved, and the decrease in awkward bending and water bucket hauling gave her more energy to visit with friends and family, and the confidence to entertain more at home. In many ways, my grandparents are very much like Morty and Lee, below. Take a few minutes to watch and see how this inspiring couple is touched by the Everyday Effect.
What Everyday things do you do, that have a big impact on your family?
What Daughter Says: When life gets monotonous, consider the Everyday Effect.
