Some people are hailing this tampon ad by Hello Flo as “The Tampon Commercial You Wish You’d Seen as a Kid.” Others find it a little too “bizarre” or even slightly confusing because it’s not completely clear what is being advertised.   My first reaction was that I hated it because I didn’t like the mean girl/queen bee main character, but I also think that it’s a much needed change from the “Mom, do you ever get that not-so-fresh feeling?” tone of most feminine hygiene product commercials.

Check out the commercial and the reaction from our readers:

Holy Mother of Flow. This almost (almost) makes me want to be 13 again. I would be tossin tampons LIKE A BOSS – Kat

Moms of girls seemed to love the commercial.   “That was amazing and a great way for young girls to realize its not embarrassing! I would want my daughters to take advantage of that!!!” –   Lori

Moms of boys were concerned that their sons might pick up on the wrong things. “As a woman, I think it’s awesome and hilarious. As a mom, were any of my kids to see it, I’d prefer none of them thought it was good form to drop “vag” in casual conversation. And the Santa/vagina line is clever, but (or “and”) totally the kind of thing a 10-year-old would pick up as a verbal tic.” –   Jonene

Getting your first period at camp makes you an entrepreneur?!  -Emily

There are concerns about mixed messages. “I agree with those who said the message is a bit contradictory. If the idea is to be proud and not embarrassed about getting the “Red Badge of Courage,” then why not offer the care packages at a store such as Walgreens or CVS?” – Bobbi Jo Rohrberg, Lipstick and Politics

“If we are supposed to celebrate our periods and not be embarrassed then just go to the store and proudly throw the box of tampons in the cart. Even ask for a price check at the counter over the loud speaker.” – Michaelene

It brought back terrible memories.  For several readers this brought back all the anxiety associated with getting our periods for the first time (it certainly did for me)   including someone whose mom tried to insert a tampon for her, “Trauma!” she said.   No doubt!

Hook ’em young and throw in some candy…#marketing101 – Heidi

This should be a non-issue since mothers should already be discussing this with their daughters.    “…the topic of periods should never be taboo, I just think mom should have played a bigger role in this ad.”   – Rebecca

Maybe the commercial wasn’t really meant for adolescent girls. “The Hello Flo service sends packages timed to your cycle. Young girls are notorious for not having great regularity. The target market is not young girls. I believe they are actually aiming a little older: women who don’t want the hassle of going to the store for tampons. The ad is meant to evoke their own camp experiences while educating the younger ones.” – Jean