I can picture it: one frustrated mom, perhaps dealing with the aftermath of a cashier who didn’t honor her coupon, storming out to her minivan. Instead of venting to the store manager, she decides to hop on Facebook Live and share her grievances with everyone—friends, family, and even that guy from high school she hasn’t spoken to in years. Why confine your complaints to one person when you can broadcast them to your entire social network in an instant?
Before long, other moms caught on, feeling compelled to express their outrage over trivial issues, like something their teenager said while driving to the local mall. In the midst of a Chick-fil-A drive-thru, they suddenly felt the urge to share their “life lessons” with the world.
Then came the viral sensation known as Chewbacca Mom, who made a splash and turned her video into a gold mine for merchandise. Suddenly, every Melissa, Kate, and Tammy saw an opportunity for fame through this suburban version of a scandal.
Look, I get it. We all have opinions and experiences we want to share. But can we take a moment to recognize that these videos are not the spontaneous bursts of insight they’re often marketed as?
Seriously, ladies. You expect us to believe that you wake up, shower, style your hair, and put on a perfectly curated outfit all to drop your kids off at school? None of you look like you’ve just rolled out of bed. We all know that drop-off usually happens in pajamas with yesterday’s mascara still smudged beneath those stylish sunglasses.
I simply can’t with these minivan videos. The pretense that these rants were inspired in the moment is so transparent. Let’s be real; the only things happening in the front seat of a minivan are yelling at that driver who cut you off or maybe plucking some stray chin hairs at a stoplight.
So, can we agree to take it down a notch? Do we really need to turn our front seats into stages for rehearsed rants about the moral implications of pre-packaged cookies? Or how you’re somehow better than that other mom because your child only eats organic food before you’ve even reached the checkout?
You might think you’re being authentic, but trust me, we see the behind-the-scenes effort. You can spend weeks planning these videos and even schedule a makeup appointment to ensure you look flawless. You can Google production value all you want, but don’t kid yourself into believing we see this as “off-the-cuff.”
I genuinely believe in sharing experiences and grievances—after all, that’s how we connect. However, the commercialization of casual conversations feels disingenuous. Whether you’re getting paid for your content or not, the manufactured outrage is hard to ignore.
Let’s just enjoy our cars for what they are—places to eat fast food and toss wrappers into the nearest trash can without guilt.
But if you must hop into your RAV4 to vent about the woman who criticized your videos, go ahead. Let her know she can shove it.
For more insightful discussions on motherhood, check out this related post. And if you’re considering family expansion, take a look at this reputable retailer for at-home insemination kits. For additional information about pregnancy and home insemination, this resource is quite helpful.
In summary, let’s keep it real and enjoy the simplicity of life without the need for staged performances in our minivans.