[carolun]

Thank you for contacting Teleflora to share your thoughts about the
"Teleflora presents America's Favorite Mom" program.

In response to your concerns, Teleflora is immediately changing the
name of our "Non-Mom" category to "Adopting Moms." After closer
examination, we can see how this may have been offensive to moms who
have adopted children -- moms who are indeed real moms to their
children in every sense of the word. In fact, many of us at
Teleflora are "adopting" parents ourselves, including our president
and owner. The essence of this category still focuses on a
grandparent, neighbor, step mom, or mom to adopted or foster
children, each one raising and loving a child.

This show of insensitivity on our part was in no way intended and we
deeply apologize for any concern or distress we may have caused. It
was always our intent to salute and celebrate all moms.

In closing, all of us at Teleflora would like to offer our sincerest
best wishes to all the many women throughout the world who have
worked so hard and given so much to earn the name "Mom."

Sincerely,
The America's Favorite Mom Team

[KKR213]

Unreal that they think that Adoptive mothers need a separate category. It shouldn't matter how someone became a mother whether it be by adoption, IVF, birth control failed or planned. A mom is a mom!!!

[lisam631]

I immediately emailed back:
Then the real tribute to adoptive mothers would be to not separate us in anyway from biological mothers.

Lisa

[daynesmom]

Got the same response.

Not sure why we need a seperate category!!??

[stephjoel99]

Total Cuh-rap. The "fix" is our own category? Really? What's more befuddling to me is if truly the president and owner of the company are adoptive parents, why in the h-e-double hockey sticks would they even agree to this AGREGIOUS "fix"? Ridiculous.

[CurlysGirly]

I'm mean, seriously, what intern without any life experience came up with the idea. Can you say "You're fired"????

[jules17]

Exactly, Tara!

I am still so mad about this. I went to the site again to read the categories. There is one about a woman who gave birth to quintuplets.

I didn't see an "IVF Mom" category (NOT knocking IVF at ALL - just pointing out that the only moms who have a separate category are those who are adoptive parents).

I am fine with the other differences - military mom, working mom, etc. How my family came to be a family and how my children came to be my children is OFF LIMITS. (*I just thought about this and am now questioning ALL differentiation - because the POINT is MOTHER'S day - so why does it matter if she works, is in the military, is single, etc.)

[afl]

And how about the description of the adoptive mom who was an adopted child and is now mom to her own daughter, plus six adopted children. So, she has her own daughter and then, separately, 6 adopted kids??????????

ugh..................... I don't get easily offended, but this has me seething.

[giovanni7460]

I sent Teleflora a letter telling them just how I felt about there participation in the NBC sponsered Non-mom contest. I just received a response from them They apologized, changed the name (we knew that) and went on to explain that there were many adoptive parents in there organization. They even say that the president and owner of Teleflora are adoptive parents.
Just wnated to pass that on. I was happy that they did this.
Patty

[kellum5]

I am sick of the this type of junk. There doesn't need to be a category other than "mom". It doesn't matter how you became a mom.
As I said in my email to them I am a mother to six- 3 bio and three adopted but in my mind I do not think at any time during the day "oh this is an adopted child or this is a bio. I think, "this is MY child." When my DH and I talk about our children we call them by name not by label of bio or adopted.
As moms we don't need or want labels we just need the opportunity to share our love with a child.

[CurlysGirly]

Here's my letter:
I am writing you as an adoptee, mother of a biological son and mother of an adopted daughter.

I have to say that I am completely shocked, sad, disappointed and appalled at NBC, Teleflora and Marie Osmond’s poor decision to create a “category” in your “Best Mom’s Contest” called “Non-Moms” and include Adoptive Moms. I am my mother’s daughter AND my daughter and son’s mother regardless of what your ill-informed marketing team thinks. As an adoptive mom, I am pretty used to the insensitive remarks but nothing THIS bold from such highly esteemed companies. What would my daughter think if she saw this and questioned why I was called her “Non-Mom”??? Which intern on your staff with obviously no life experience coined such a ridiculous phrase anyway?

I understand that you changed the category to “Adopting Moms”. You’re still missing the mark. I am MOM, not to be confused with a Grandma or a lady who runs an orphanage that “saves” children (another offensive thing since we never want our adopted children to feel as if we rescued them and they should be grateful to us. How would that make YOU feel??).

Well, my daughter will not have a chance to watch your show and wonder why she is spending Mother’s Day as a Non-Daughter with her Non-Mom. Instead I will be telling all of my friends, family and basically anyone walking down the street that will listen to me to boycott your foolish show and products.

Shame on you NBC, Teleflora and Marie Osmond. The later of the two should have known better given that the President of Teleflora and Marie Osmond are also adoptive moms. It’s obvious the higher ups don’t proof what they lend their names to.

[jules17]

Tara, you rock! And your letter rocks!

I am standing and cheering for you, Momma!!

[jules17]

Patty, it still makes me furious.

As adoptive parents, they should know better!

[SKL]

Wow, the original thing didn't make me "mad" because I just thought "how ignorant." But the response is even more pathetic. It's one thing to fail to consider how you come off to a particular group; it's another to rationalize doing it really wrong.

I hardly even think of myself as an adoptive mom any more. When I had to rush home from a seminar yesterday, I didn't say "sorry but I have to go get dinner for my ADOPTED children." I didn't do anything differently from any of the other women who had to go home and feed their presumably bio children. Or am I missing something? Maybe it's I who am dense?

I guess it just amazes me that according to these folks, my commitment to my kids is more like that of a neighbor lady or granny than that of a biological mom. You would think that they would have at least vetted their apology / rationalization with a couple of adoptive moms to see how it would go over with the rest of us. Some people are just stupid.

[mommytoEli]

i didn't so much mind that we were in a category with other non traditional care takers, as much as they called us NON...that is what really stuck in my craw...what will be interesting is to see what they call it on the tv show when they crown the winners.