“One reason we struggle with insecurity: We're comparing our behind-the-scenes to everyone else's highlight reel.” Steven Furtick

Dear mothers-who-never-have-a-bad-day,

Don’t shake your head and say “Not me” until you read what I have to say.  I see so many mothers on the internet on a daily basis who never, ever have a bad day - everything their children do is precious, cute, or incredibly sweet.  These mothers wax poetic about how well their kids get along, how much they LOVE doing art projects or playing Candyland with their offspring.  They talk about how much their little angel LOVES healthy foods, how all their kids were potty-trained at 18 months, and how they relish every. single. second. with The Best Kid On Earth.

Oh, and did I mention that their kids are all geniuses, too?

Yeah.  Still think you’re not one of them?  I challenge you to look back on your last year of Facebook posts to make sure, because I assure you, they are out there.  And I come into contact with them.  A lot.

These parents infuriate me sometimes.  They piss me off because they aren’t real, and keeping it real is the only thing that saves the sanity of weather-beaten mothers.  Ladies, we don’t need a constant showing of the ‘highlight reel’, we need real people, and real allies.

Would it kill you to admit that you were up all night because Junior was teething, you fell asleep in your coffee, and that you’re only going to the Y so you can enjoy an hour of music NOT performed by The Wiggles while your kid hangs out in the gym daycare?  Would it kill you to admit that you’re worried your kid might be dyslexic, or that you flipped out on your offspring for tracking mud over the carpet you JUST steam-cleaned?   Would it kill you to post a picture every once in a while that DOESN’T show a completely pristine house? 

Apparently it will just KILL some people, because all you ever hear about is how smart, beautiful, kind, loving, quiet, and well-behaved their kids are, and how awesome they (the parents) are in every way.

This SUCKS.  If you are doing it, YOU suck.

I’m not suggesting that everyone put their kids down, or develop a Debbie Downer personality… but Christ, give it a rest!  You are doing way more harm than good by showing only a constant stream of sunshine-laced posts, and never admitting when things are less than perfect.  It is incredibly depressing to compare your ‘behind-the-scenes’ with the ‘highlight-reel’ of other parents.  A constant stream of sunshine from others leaves you feeling awful, incompetent, and insecure.  After all, look how easy it is for XYZ!  Why is it so hard for me?  Why can’t I get it together and raise a perfect child?

For the love of God, I beg you:  Keep it real.  You’re not going to get an award for being a fake Super-Mom on the internet, nor is anyone going to read your FB post and offer your little Einstein a full scholarship at 21 months old.  Besides, when we wake up and think about it, we realize you’re fake anyway.

In other words?  “Liar, liar, pants on fire!” 

You’re being a jerk, and you aren’t making any friends by pretending your life is perfect.

Love, Me