Social media can be a double-edged sword, right? It can give you a comforting sense of support and inclusion by connecting you with new and old friends… or, it can make you feel completely inadequate and sorry for yourself.
Yikes! This is true for everyone, but for moms who are on that perpetual emotional roller coaster — struggling to balance home, work, and personal lives — it can be especially brutal.
USA Today reports that 84% of moms believe the stereotype of the perfect mom is outdated and unrealistic, yet nine out of 10 moms still feel pressure to be perfect, thanks in part to social media! While it’s true that social platforms can serve as an excellent way to stay in touch with family, friends, and the rest of humanity, use caution. Before you know it, you can sucked into a world of insane expectations and unattainable goals.
Don’t be fooled by people who post an endless barrage of perfect images — flawless family portraits, kids accepting academic accolades, glamorous girls’ trips, romantic dinners, and luxurious vacation pix. It’s certainly within everyone’s rights to post whatever they want, but there’s no such thing as a perfect mom or perfect family. Just because you don’t see photographic evidence of the mishaps, screwups, and failures, certainly doesn’t mean they’re not there!
As tempting as it is, It would be sanctimonious and unfair to lecture seemingly airbrushed moms on the subject of social media etiquette, so instead, maybe when these friends rub us the wrong way, we need to figure out if… Are we struggling with our own insecurities? Or is it just plain annoying?
If it’s playing on your insecurities, this is a great opportunity to get some perspective. Take time to appreciate what you have and what you’re doing right, and recognize that no one’s life is all sunshine, flowers, and domestic bliss. Just like if someone posts too many political rants or general gripes about life, it’s up to you to block out the noise. Either choose not to let it bother you, or hide/unfollow them — that’s what that option is for!
Also, make sure you’re not unknowingly mimicking that behavior. Don’t feel pressured to present a falsely perfect image to the world. There’s nothing wrong with sharing your loveliest or proudest moments, but including some silly, disorderly, unflattering stuff on occasion reminds you that you’re human, and it reminds us all that we’re all in this crazy, unpredictable world of parenting together!
