Graceful Parenting in Austin

Every Mom thinks their baby is the cutest baby and there a lots of Moms who want their babies to be in print ads, commercials and the movies. But, I’m not that kind of Mom, I just want my baby to be happy. It is just a coincidence that my baby is the cutest baby. So, when I got the email about the local casting call for Pampers, Baby Girl and I decided to make an appearance.

That is, of coarse, only after some trouble at home…

I told Blue Eyes about our plans and joked that the chances for making the cut weren’t as good because it was a Mother and Baby print ad, and I’m not nearly as good looking as Baby Girl. And he agreed. Way too quickly. Then he went on to ask if the woman had to be the baby’s mother, because maybe Baby Girl’s aunt could go with her instead? I told him he had better just stop talking before he got in more trouble. Now, in his defense, I am not photogenic. I’m OK looking in person, but I’m awkward in front of the camera. But still…

I headed down to the Clarion Inn with a few girlfriends who also have babies. I felt like we were auditioning for American Idol. I figure the same number of people go to the original casting calls (hundreds of thousands) and the same number of people actually get discovered (maybe a dozen). But, I enjoy doing things I don’t usually do, it makes for a more interesting day, so there we were.

I’m not one of those competitive stage Moms, comparing her baby with all the others and getting gossipy about the other Moms. But, this one Mom was totally smoozing and asking to meet the casting director in person. Then there was a skinny baby. Now, this baby may be a super model when she grows up, but no way is there going to be a skinny baby in a diaper ad. Then there was a boy running around and he must have been four years old. Maybe three and a half. And I know there are three and four year olds who wear diapers and I’m not all judgmental about that, but diapers aren’t cute anymore when you baby is four. Maybe we will be discovered!

We filled out some paperwork and took off Baby Girl’s clothes, except for the diaper, of coarse. (I told Baby Girl that this kind of photo shoot would NOT be OK when she got older.) A photographer was taking pictures of all the Mom and Baby pairs. When I stepped in front of the camera, the clip that was holding up the backdrop came loose and it rolled onto the floor and it took a while for them to get it set back up. I was awkward in front of a camera and the photographer hadn’t even taken a picture yet. Then she takes a few shots and Baby Girl was cute, I’m sure. I tried to think non-awkward thoughts. I hope that didn’t make me look awkward.

I haven’t heard if we got a call back for the next step, which is a real photo shoot of lots of Mom and Baby pairs, some of which would actually get used in print ads (kind of like Hollywood, then the final 12). I’ll let you know what happens…