We all do it! Every morning, over our coffee, we scroll and eye roll at those posts on Facebook. Those moms that look like they have it all figured out. The moms with the smiling kids in a family Christmas photo, the cute photos of their kids playing (surrounded in a clean house), and the documented trips to the zoo with the giggly selfies.
I will be the first to stand up, and the first to admit that I am ONE OF THOSE WOMEN! One of those lying, sick, horribly mean women. I put fourth this fake front, a frosted window into my life.
For every photo of my wonderful daughter in her cute boot cut jeans and Gymboree sweater pretending to feed the dog pretend cupcakes she made in her play kitchen, there is a whole world behind the photo you don’t see! The cuteness captured in the photo is the me that Facebook sees, however it’s a lie! The real me is standing there still in my pj’s with little flicks of egg and yogurt from my toddlers breakfast still clinging to my shirt, the dishes are stacked in the sink from the night before, I was up most of the night before with a screaming toddler, and I am pretty sure that the wet spot on the kitchen floor is from the dog. We all have had those days, its not every day, but as a mom you know what I am talking about.
This isn’t the me Facebook sees. I lie to Facebook. I don’t share the dark side of parenting with Facebook. I put on my mask and pretend everything is OK. I wouldn’t want Facebook to know that I am a minute from tears because I am so physically exhausted, or that seconds later the toddler is screaming and the dog is barking. I just capture that moment with a sun shinny comment, and keep smiling.
Why as women do we do this? Why do we walk around with our masks on? Why can’t we show each other the struggle we are going through that day. As mothers we should lean on each other, and offer support.
Facebook has become the newest way of keeping up with the Jones’. It’s the new way to compete with each other in the endless battle for the “best parent” award.
We are all guilty of it! Next time you see those cute photos of the “prefect” children, just remember it’s a lie! Take those Facebook post in stride because its not always true.