Earlier this summer, I wrote a post about how I love the Toyota Sienna Swagger Wagon commercials. I crave them like I do 30 Rock and Modern Family. I think they’re a riot, and they give me a hankerin’ for a minivan. In fact, I draw hearts and NP + TS on Sienna pictures I rip out from magazines before I tape them in my locker.
Then Toyota rolled out the campaign for the Highlander featuring some snarky little smart aleck, and I hit the brakes on my Toyota girl crush.
Now, I love the Highlander. My dad, Big Al, drives one, and I think it’s fabulous.
What I don’t like is a snide, too-hip-for-the-room elementary schooler talking smack about his parents.
(OK, he’s an actor and his parents are actors, but you catch my drift). In each of the commercials, he points out his parents’ nerd-like tendencies (“I don’t tolerate ‘dorkiness’ very well,” he says), and to reclaim their cool factor, he insists, they need the shiny, souped-up Highlander their neighbors have.
Know what, Snarkles? Mom and Dad are driving that wood-paneled '80s minivan because children are expensive, not because they don’t want to hold on to their youth. You’re wearing a leather jacket, for goodness’ sake! Do you know how pricy leather jackets are for 10-year-olds? The entire campaign makes me uncomfortable and establishes that rampant materialism and talking back to your parents are super cool.
“Just because you’re a parent doesn’t mean you have to be lame,” he says.
I guess I am lame. And I’m OK with that. I'm not the only "lame" parent out here suggesting Toyota shove a sock in it (check out this one, or this one, or this one ...)
By Nicole Plegge, Lifestyle Blogger for SmartParenting
Metro East mom Nicole Plegge has written for STL Parent for more than 12 years. Besides working as a freelance writer & public relations specialist, and raising two daughters and a husband, Nicole's greatest achievements are finding her misplaced car keys each day and managing to leave the house in a stain-free shirt. Her biggest regret is never being accepted to the Eastland School for Girls. Follow Nicole on Twitter @STLWriterinIL
It's the food truck event that started them all! Local food trucks gather for an evening of friends, fun, live music and plenty of great food at Sauce Food Truck Fridays. St. Louis' favorite mobile restaurants will be dishing out fresh fare and local brews in Tower Grove Park.
Kids can work on existing gym skills, learn new skills or just play around during Open Gym at Miss Kelly's Gym. Reservations are not necessary.
See the Zoo's California sea lions perform acrobatic and athletic feats, including Olympic-style dives on a high-diving platform, flipper walks, frisbee tosses and plenty of surprises. While on stage with the sea lions, the Zoo's trainers explain sea lion behavior and positive-reinforcement training, in addition to the need for conserving the sea lion's ocean habitat.
Young visitors and their families are invited to the Energy Stage to enjoy interactive read-alouds of science-themed picture books. Story times are followed by a short demonstration or discussion connected to the book's main concepts.
Join in on First Art, a free art program for toddlers where the focus is on the process of making art rather than the finished product. Dress to get messy!