As a professional therapist and coach specializing in family estrangement, I work with numerous parents who have been painfully cut off by their adult children. These parents deserve our respect and support, not to be the subject of disdain or ridicule. This is why I find Progressive Insurance's recent advertising campaign — with its narrative "we can't prevent you from turning into your parents" — not just offensive, but downright appalling.

This campaign undermines the dignity of parents, portraying them in a negative light and perpetuating a stereotype that fuels an already growing silent epidemic of family estrangement. Progressive's commercials suggest that turning into our parents is something to be avoided, dismissing the wisdom, love, and experiences that parents have to offer.

A study by the AARP suggests that 32% of adults have experienced some form of estrangement in their family. The message of Progressive's ads inadvertently feeds into this disturbing trend by normalizing and joking about what is, in reality, a painful experience for countless families. It's crucial that we, as a society, contribute to mending and respecting family bonds rather than breaking them apart.

We urge Progressive Insurance to reconsider their advertising strategy, and to work towards campaigns that uplift and honor the role of parents in our lives. Campaigns have the power to shape public opinion and influence societal norms, so promoting a narrative that diminishes parental respect is harmful and irresponsible.

Sign this petition to demand that Progressive Insurance withdraw these disrespectful commercials and instead promote a message that fosters understanding, respect, and appreciation for parents. Together, let's stand for narratives that build family ties, not fracture them further.