Baby New Year

When I was expecting and my body was growing, you wouldn't believe the number of people who rubbed my belly. Some asked first, but many unbelievably did no such thing! A friend of mine, with three kids under her belt said,
"Nothing attracts more attention than a pregnant belly."

She paused. "Well, nothing except a baby."

I laughed.

Little did I know how true it was.

In 1997, our little star was born and my husband Tom learned first hand that everyone wanted to reach out and touch our baby. From the supermarket to the salon, people could not and would not control themselves. It was open season!

Tom developed a ninja-like response to deflect those germ-carrying digits. With a keen stare and a growl, the unsuspecting baby-touchers were sent on their way with their tails appropriately between the legs.

Sometimes when he returned home, he remarked, "It was like I wasn't even there! They just moved right passed me to get to her." It was like they didn't even see him. In fact, in many ways, Tom took a back seat to any attention.


Back-seat Driver

Babies get so much attention!!

When our second cute baby came along, after a few months of this same torture and neglect, Tom again felt the pains of playing second fiddle.

One day he said to me, "When we were engaged, we walked hand in hand. When the distance was too great, we drove.

You were a strong-willed person. You were a hi-tech woman with a career in software. You insisted on driving your car when we went places. At least then, I got to sit in front.

When you got pregnant, and got a lot of attention, I felt like I moved from the front seat to the back seat.

When Jacqueline came along, people neglected to see me anymore. It was then that I was relegated to the trunk."



Baby Driver

Tom continued, "And finally, when cute baby number two came along, that was it. I didn't even rate high enough to be in the car.

The baby was in the driver seat.

I was dragging from the bumper, hanging on for dear life. Screaming and yelling actually had no effect. They kept right on pushing me back. I felt like they didn't even see me."


Baby On Board, AKA Dad On Bumper

Since then, eight years have passed.

Tom has learned from this experience that it is better to be hanging from the bumper than to be left on the road side for dead! He says, "I would much prefer to be still somewhat connected to the family unit than to be road kill. Road kill is akin to being totally cut off. It's not just divorce. It's death."

In this economy, I know that some companies totally feel like they are hanging on to the bumper screaming bloody murder and yet no one hears them. You are yelling about all the great things that your business does and it seems like no one hears you.

I hear you.

I hear your pain.

It's hard.

I do assure you that I know Tom felt like we didn't hear him. However, we really did hear him.

Honestly, I didn't have the energy or the time to respond to him. But yes, I did hear him.
I really do appreciate his patience and his persistence.

Turns out this whole "the kids get top billing and the parents play second fiddle" thing was really just a phase. Well, actually a stage.

And after all that has passed, Tom gets a whole lot more attention.

So the moral of the story is, cute babies do get a lot of attention, but be persistent with your marketing and your messages and your voice will be heard.

When the time is right and the volume is down on those attention-stealing babies, you will get yours.