This Little Piggy Rode the Subway

I like the bornlearning.org commercials in theory. I love the idea that “everyday moments are teaching moments” and it is certainly an approach I try to take with my kids. And the commercials themselves are decent – the guy pulling the wagon and reading all the signs to his son is good, and the woman in the Laundromat is only marginally annoying. But the spot with the older woman on the subway is just plain stupid. I don’t care how much you are hoping to teach your kid to count, you do not take off your shoes and socks (!) on the subway. Ever. All of the ads feature onlookers staring at these characters like they are crazy, and we as watchers are supposed to think so as well until the child is revealed and we have the big ‘aha’ moment where we understand what is happening. But kid or no kid, that woman is still crazy. Ignoring how gross it is to be waving your gnarled feet around in public (in what I assume is winter due to the coats and hats worn by everyone), why on earth do you need to use your toes to count to ten? What the hell happened to your fingers? This is what fingers are for. And, if for some completely unfathomable reason you absolutely must use toes, then for the love of all that is holy use the kid’s toes. Kids have cute chubby toes, and they usually like any excuse to take off their shoes and socks (except for my daughter who has been alternating sleeping in her new crocs and her rubber rain boots. Seriously, over her footie pajamas, EVERY night). Plus, I’m sure no one would object to seeing those cute little piggies. So if the weather dictated that you put on sock and shoes before leaving the house, please wait to remove said garments until you return, regardless of the missed opportunities for educational enhancement. If your toes are already out an about in sandals, then feel free to utilize them as you wish. Just get pedicure first.