We all know the power in our children seeing themselves in cartoons, books, ads, and even packaging.
This is a point that Rose Bennett of Pembroke Pines, Florida, can personally attest to. Her 1-year-old son, Ben, has grown fondly attached to his new bag of diapers. Why? Because the packaging boasts a little African-American boy that looks just like him.
“Ben thinks this is him and won’t let go of the diapers,” Bennett tweeted, posting photos of the toddler hugging a package of Parent’s Choice diapers. And naturally, the tweet has gone viral: Over 23,000 Twitter users have favorited her tweet and more than 12,000 have retweeted this utter cuteness.
According to an interview with the Huffington Post, Bennett said this new bond happened when she and her mother-in-law went to Walmart to buy Ben diapers. When she realized the store chain didn’t have Ben’s regular size, she bought a size larger, which had different packaging. Soon after, Bennett noticed her baby hugging the diaper package and calling it “Ben.”
“I told him it wasn’t him, but he insisted on dragging the diapers around and hugging them,” added Bennett.
Bennett stressed that she believes race and visibility has everything to do with this newfound adorable connection.
“I think he became so attached because he’s never seen another baby that looks like him on packaging for diapers,” she told the Huffington Post. “He was very happy with his new ‘friend’ and continues to drag the diapers around the house.”
She added, “Representation is more important than we think. I want to see other babies that look like him, so he knows there are others and that it is possible for him to be a baby model as well.”
Word.
SOURCE: Huffington Post | PHOTO CREDIT: Getty, Twitter
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