When I wrote this post about loving the new Pampers commercial with the baby girls having crazy bed head, I had no idea Pampers would actually see the funny picture Greyson took of Charlotte.  They asked to make her the Pampers Beautiful Mornings baby on their Facebook and Twitter this week.  “Of course!” I thought.  “How fun?!”  My mama heart was so swelled with pride at that image of my little cutie’s crazy hair.  Pampers’ more than 1.3 million followers got a glimpse of my girl.

When the picture went up on Facebook yesterday, it got lots of likes and comments.  Most comments were very sweet and flattering.  Other mothers shared their kids’ crazy bed head stories.  Everyone got a laugh at Charlotte’s funny hairdo.  Someone said Greyson looked like Seth Rogen.  Ha!  He gets that a lot.

I don’t know what it is about human nature, but naturally I focused on the three nasty comments from total strangers.  It was all I could do not to drive to Whereverville, California or Someplace, Illinois and angrily unplug the laptops of the morons who would dare say mean things about my kid.  (Oooh!  Unplug them!?  I’m such a destructive rebel, I know.)

Like this Internet user who thought it was okay to say “Kid is kind of weird looking. And i know im not the only one thinking it”  You think?  Yeah, that is kind of the point.  It’s weird and crazy hair.  That is the whole point of the picture and the ad campaign.  (Oh yeah, capitalize your “I’s”!  )  

I got all defensive when I read, “Dad’s lookin mighty creepy behind that phone…”  I mean, who is she to say that about my man!?!?  Greyson on the other hand laughed and said he did kind of look creepy and went on to make fun of other creepy Internet pictures.

Someone else said, “Stupid picture.”  Okay, then why even comment?  Thanks to Amanda who defended me after that comment.

I learned a few things from this experience:

1. I figure Katie Holmes must be ready to rip the throats out of the paparazzi and any writer for US Weekly.  Seriously.  I got bent out of shape over near-harmless comments on Facebook and she has to see pictures and read whole articles about her daughter’s lifestyle and welfare.  Be nice to Suri!  She’s somebody’s baby!  (Okay, I understand comparing my situation to hers is a bit of a stretch.)  
2. I learned that is the risk you take when you share your child’s image with the world.  I understand the risk I take writing a blog and having people read it.  I signed a waiver saying it was okay for Procter & Gamble to use the picture and I leave my blog open for your comments every day.  That’s what I decided to do and I have to take whatever comes with it.  I’m not trying to make money off my kid or anything, I just like writing about our lives.
3. I learned I need to relax my inner Mama Bear.  It’s okay.  It’s not a big deal.  I think my baby is beautiful.  Who cares what strangers think?

I love this picture.  It makes me smile.  I’m glad it made so many of you smile.  Thanks Pampers, and thanks to all the kind friends and strangers who write nice things on the Internet!