Mother knows best on new “Momism” cards

Contact: Megan Ferington or Frank Cirillo, 216.252.4938
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Cleveland, Ohio (April 2007) – Mom has the final word on a new collection of entertaining Mother’s Day cards from American Greetings. Celebrating those classic nuggets of wisdom and maternal tendencies commonly referred to as “Momisms,” that made us either roll our eyes or squirm with embarrassment as kids, the cards flash back to the days when our manners, personal grooming, health and nutrition fell under Mom’s watchful eye and were subject to her own special brand of “TLC.”

Here are a few of the classic Mom-isms immortalized on the new American Greetings Mother’s Day cards:

• The Mom purse: Leave it to Mom to be prepared for any of life’s little childhood emergencies, from runny noses to skinned knees to tummy aches and grimy hands. The famous “Mom purse” held a veritable treasure trove of remedies, and carried an uncanny assortment of just the right things to “make it all better,” even if it weighed more than a small child. One card from American Greetings recalls this magical fashion accessory with a listing of all the little portable fix-its no mom would ever be without: bandages, safety pins, aspirin, tissues, candy, lip balm, sanitizer, rubber bands, notebook and shoelaces. The message inside the card says, “All anyone would have to do is look in your purse to see how totally amazing you are! Happy Mother’s Day.”

• Mom spit: All those miracle cleaners and spot removers touted on infomercials and TV ads don’t stand up to the original and still the best: Mom Spit. The “Mom Spit” card – yes, it’s shaped just like one of those plastic spray bottles – reminds us on the product label that Mom Spit is “100% organic,” has “amazing cleaning powers,” “removes unwanted smears and smudges” and “may contain traces of TLC.” After all, you’d be hard-pressed to find a mom who hasn’t licked her finger, then used it to remove food, dirt or other undesirables from her child’s face. The inside of the card (from a child who knows first-hand of its amazing cleaning powers) reads: “Just remembering some of the embarrassing ways you’ve shown your love for me over the years. Thanks, Mom. Happy Mother’s Day.”

• Comfort food: Once upon a time, before the days of watching good and bad cholesterol, trans fat and refined sugars, it was all about food that stuck to your ribs and made you feel loved. Even the most dedicated health enthusiast would likely admit that ignorance was bliss. The hard truth is that some of Mom’s specialties were just plain “yummy.” The comfort food card from American Greetings harkens back to those nostalgic pre-carb counting and waist-watching days when meatloaf platters, fried chicken dinners, macaroni and cheese, and pot roast with gravy reigned supreme. Mom’s culinary skills and ability to incorporate love as a major ingredient in all of her signature dishes are acknowledged with the message: “Compliments to the chef. Happy Mother’s Day.”

• Motherly words of wisdom: Even though they may not be based on hard facts or supported by clinical research, Mom preached them over and over, so they must be true. Who could forget any of the following Momisms listed on a card with a photo of a pouting child on the front: “Your face is gonna freeze like that!” “It’s only funny ‘til someone gets hurt.” “I don’t care what everyone else is doing.” “Someday, you’ll thank me for this.” The inside of the card expresses gratitude for keeping such a watchful eye and providing helpful guidance.

American Greetings Mother’s Day cards can be found at participating drug chains, grocery stores and super centers nationwide, as well as in American Greetings and Carlton Cards retail stores. Visit www.americangreetings.com/retailers for store locations.

About American Greetings Corporation
American Greetings Corporation (NYSE: AM) is one of the world's largest manufacturers of social expression products. Along with greeting cards, its product lines include gift wrap, party goods, stationery, calendars, ornaments and electronic greetings. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, American Greetings generates annual net sales of approximately $1.8 billion. For more information on the Company, visit http://corporate.americangreetings.com.