Real Talk: Our Take On Honest Parenting

Let’s be honest, parenting can be messy. In uncertain times like these, it’s most definitely not expected for parents to have it all together. Social distancing from our real-time support groups through physical isolation makes it all the more important to connect online with friends and parenting communities.

This year we’re seeing increasing conversation about the mental health and wellbeing of parents, where moms especially, are growing as a highly supportive community. The age-old expectation for mothers to be “supermoms”, sacrificing their own needs and health for the good of their families, is slowly being broken down. Moms are human too! They’re entitled to ‘down days’ just like the rest of us. It’s so important for moms to be real about their parenting journey online, not only sharing the good times and the laughter, but also the tears, fights and struggles.

“Putting up this façade that you are perfect parents and you always love your children [is going away]. People are starting to do away with that false narrative about motherhood. It’s important that parents are able to be honest about how difficult it can be to raise children. We can talk about the hard parts of parenting. You love your children, but you might not like them in that particular moment,” says parenting expert Tanya Hayles.

We need each other now more than ever, so let’s use our social connectedness to support and encourage each other through sharing our daily experiences in a real and relatable way.