Living MOMing

The Curated Reality of Glam Mothering

We all have seen those IG pages, perfectly curated memoirs of fab moms dressed to the nines with million dollar strollers, coiffed hair and perfect meals. Tens of thousands of followers stroll their timelines daily taking in these perfect images, some taking them for face value and others crying in their coffee at the mere fact that their IG page would be littered with poorly lit photos of their homes in disarray as they question, “how does *insert perfect IG feed name here* do it?

” I mean, she has a thousand kids and still manages to look put together and I have one and can’t seem to get my life, let alone head out to Target with a beat face.”

Sometimes I just want to disconnect from the internet, the very internet that has introduced me to so many amazing and powerful women. The internet that over the past 7 years has allowed me to subconsciously document my feelings and life for memories that years from now would have been a distant memory.

The curated reality of the internet will get you if you let it, especially when it comes to motherhood.

I follow sites for nothing more than inspiration and ideas, and can easily decipher reality from what you want me to see.  My concern is for those mothers who are struggling with just trying to get the basics together and  feel like they keep dropping the apples because as a mother they don’t look as put together, or their clothing isn’t as expensive, or their business isn’t thriving or their Starbucks would be photographed in front of the steering wheel of a non luxury vehicle.

If motherhood is a community, then I think it is time that real moments start out numbering the curated ones. We all love a pretty photo, but as an influencer I have started to ask myself what good am I putting out into this community for that mother trying to find her way. I fully understand every woman and mother has her own free will to think and perceive things as she pleases but the caring nature in me wants to see that mom know she is winning in her sweatpants and messed up brows. If only  a  suggestion for a quick meal or a Dollar Tree hack to keep her home together I don’t want to feel untouchable in this motherhood space.  I don’t want y’all to come look at me be pretty and tell me  how hard I slay, I want this online space on the internet to be a source of inspiration and connectable moments that we all experience in life in the realm of parenting, fashion, beauty, home and life.

I want to feel real. The thought that someone could look at my online personality and think that I’m perfect or have a perfect life makes me want to barf. Have you seen my Snapchat and the mess of my life that I document there?

I’ll admit. Some of us really do have things a little more together than others, and are genuinely happy but the reality is likely it hasn’t always been that way, and while we may be strong in one area, we are undoubtedly weak in others.

*talking to myself here*

Take what makes sense to you from this curated community of glam motherhood and don’t feel bad about your reality not being theirs or the one they want you to believe in.  We are all just works in progress.

Some a little more curated than others.

As you were.

 

Photo credit: It’s Really Kita

 

 

12 Comments

  • Reply
    Christiana
    August 9, 2017 at 6:58 am

    Great post! That’s why I love your blog!!!!

  • Reply
    Lauren
    August 9, 2017 at 8:32 am

    You better preach MiMi!! Yes to all of this just yes!

  • Reply
    Charlotte
    August 9, 2017 at 11:08 am

    Yes to all of this!

  • Reply
    april brumm
    August 9, 2017 at 11:30 am

    for sure this is a trap set by the devil himself to slow us down. comparison isn’t always productive. thank you!

  • Reply
    Lashawn
    August 9, 2017 at 11:54 am

    SAY ?? THAT??

  • Reply
    Bernetta
    August 9, 2017 at 11:59 am

    So very true. I love this post. You make .want to post a pic of me in my sweats right now!! Motherhood isn’t always easy or glam. Yassss

  • Reply
    Shon Valdry
    August 9, 2017 at 1:03 pm

    This is why I keep coming back here! Thank you so much. Even us, well speaking for myself, older 40ish moms feel a little some kind of way on social media. This post was a timely word for me today. Thank you, Sis!

  • Reply
    Felicia
    August 9, 2017 at 3:30 pm

    And the church said, “Amen”. Trying to keep up with the Joneses will have you left behind in more ways than one.

  • Reply
    Ayanna
    August 9, 2017 at 3:40 pm

    This. Post. Is. Everything.

  • Reply
    Britney
    August 9, 2017 at 10:58 pm

    Earlier this year (and multiple times before), I took a long break from blogging, vlogging, and social media altogether because I felt so over whelmed with visual perfection, which I believed was mandatory for social media success. Meanwhile, I’m over here so far from it. I’m okay with that now but it was discouraging at first.

  • Reply
    Erika
    August 9, 2017 at 11:05 pm

    Comparison is and will always be the thief of joy.

  • Reply
    Angela
    August 10, 2017 at 7:30 pm

    Great post! Thanks for the insight.

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