Updated: April 17, 2018
Originally Published: January 13, 2012
Lately, there’s been a lot of chatter about the appropriateness of sharing our less-than-perfect feelings about motherhood online. How could we? What if our kids stumble upon a post or a tweet in 5, 10, or even 30 years? Will they be devastated? The internet is forever, after all, and once something is out there, it’s tough to take back. Is the fleeting satisfaction of sharing these feelings worth it? Are we being selfish by prioritizing our needs over theirs?
Absolutely not. We are just trying to survive.
Motherhood is no walk in the park. While the beautiful moments certainly outshine the frustrating ones, they don’t tell the whole story. If there’s a mother out there who’s sailed through this journey without a single complaint, I’d love to know her secret—because it’s just not realistic. Some moms cope with a glass of wine, others with retail therapy, some with strict diets, and a few might even stray in relationships. Then there are those who choose to write about their experiences. Which method do you think is most harmful to a family?
Our children need us—right now. They crave our love, our presence, and our guidance in this very moment. If sharing a post or tweet helps me or another mother unload those challenging emotions so we can be more present for our kids, then it’s absolutely worth it.
The love I have for my children is unwavering. Every choice I make reflects my dedication to their well-being. They are my whole world, and I shower them with affection daily. But am I perfect? Nope! And do they need to believe I am? If discovering that I found them a bit annoying one day 15 years from now is the worst they encounter, I’ll consider them the luckiest folks ever—and I’ll expect a trophy for Mother of the Millennium!
Not everyone will resonate with my posts, the guest articles I share, the anonymous confessions, or my book. That’s perfectly fine. There are countless lovely sites celebrating ideal motherhood, and I encourage you to explore them—your reading choices are yours to make. However, it’s not your place to dictate what I or anyone else should or shouldn’t do. If a mother of a special needs child expresses that she loves her kids but doesn’t always like them, it’s not your job to correct her. This kind of judgment has no place on the playground or online.
I teach my children that they don’t need to like everyone, but they do need to treat everyone with kindness. If they encounter something they dislike that doesn’t affect them directly, they should simply ignore it. It’s all about respecting others and minding their own business—basic lessons we all learned growing up, which some seem to have forgotten.
Yes, social media adds a whole new layer to parenting, and we need to be mindful of what we post, knowing our kids might read it someday. Personally, I believe we’ll have raised them with enough love and support to handle a few lightly sarcastic posts.
Besides, if my children can’t grasp the concept of humor, I’ll know I’ve really dropped the ball as a mom.
For more insights into family planning and home insemination, check out this informative piece on intrauterine insemination. And for those interested in home insemination kits, this link offers some great options. You might also find helpful tips on intracervical insemination to deepen your understanding of the subject.
In summary, navigating motherhood in the digital age is a complex journey filled with love, challenges, and the occasional sarcastic post. As we share our experiences, let’s remember that openness can be a form of survival.