In the age of social media, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, especially for mothers. Sometimes, I find myself on the brink of unfriending you. Yes, you. And you. And you. Social media often leaves us feeling inadequate—like we’re not doing enough or being enough. It’s frustrating because parenting is tough, and we’re all navigating this journey in our own ways.
During my initial years of motherhood, I was inundated with articles, posts, and advice from other parents. Instead of empowering me, these so-called truths made me feel worse. Articles on parenting strategies, health concerns, and perfect family moments left me feeling guilty and anxious. For instance, learning that certain food dyes could potentially be harmful didn’t help my confidence; it only made me second-guess my choices, like giving my child a red lollipop during a bank visit.
And those picture-perfect family snapshots? You know the ones. “Look at us! We’re so blissfully happy at the beach, all matching and everything!” It’s exhausting to witness such curated joy on your feed. I began to question why I felt compelled to compare my reality with these seemingly flawless portrayals of family life.
My husband encouraged me to step back from a popular parenting forum that had become an obsession for me. “You’re always worried about our healthy baby having some terminal illness,” he’d say. He was right. I was getting lost in the opinions of strangers, believing their insights were more valid than my own instincts. So, I deleted my account and started relying on my intuition, my heart, and my mind. If I had a question, I’d reach out to my mom or a friend instead of countless strangers eager to offer unsolicited advice.
Eventually, I realized that the passive-aggressive advice circulating in my newsfeed was affecting my self-esteem. While these posts likely weren’t meant to offend, they often did. I recognized that my insecurities were amplifying the impact of these updates. Most of these messages came from friends who were just trying to share information—whether about GMOs, dry drowning, or even human trafficking.
I love social media, but I learned to filter what I engage with. I ignore political debates, skim past sports discussions, and appreciate the joyous updates about weddings and newborns. I became an expert scroller, focusing only on posts that genuinely brought me joy. In doing so, I found not only that my social media time decreased, but I also became a more relaxed mother. I stopped comparing my parenting style to the unattainable perfection displayed online and embraced my unique approach.
Despite the overwhelming information available today, it’s important to remember that we’re all in the same boat. We’re all tired, we sometimes lose our tempers, and we occasionally let our kids have too much screen time. And that’s perfectly fine. Whether you choose to portray a flawless image on Facebook or share your messy truths, we’re all navigating this parenting journey together. Let’s support one another through the chaos and meet up for a drink when our kids have grown up. We can laugh about our experiences and even snap a few selfies to commemorate the journey.
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Summary:
Social media can create unrealistic expectations for mothers, leading to feelings of inadequacy. By prioritizing personal intuition over external advice and filtering social media interactions, parents can cultivate a more positive and authentic parenting experience. Embracing our unique journeys allows us to support one another in the challenges of motherhood.