Navigating the Highs and Lows of Parenting: A Social Media Perspective.

5/20/2019

💥💭 A few days ago, Facebook's savvy algorithm suggested a video that tickled our curiosity. Despite its origin from an unfamiliar page, the parenting-themed thumbnail had us intrigued. We hit play, ready to dive into this unexpected find. #ParentingVideo📹👪
📺 Within a minute, it was clear - this video wasn't our brew of choice. Picture this: a mom pulls up to the school drop-off point and a minor meltdown ensues. Why? Her child had removed their shoes and wasn't prepared to leap out of the car for school. #SchoolDropOffDrama🚗👟🏫
💡💭 Now, let's not forget - parents are humans, not superheroes. They feel, they react, and they're not invincible to the hurdles of everyday life. But, the sight of a mom screeching over a minor hiccup at school drop-off, all under the banner of "End of School Drop Off Be Like," left us perplexed. We couldn't find the humor. #ParentingRealityCheck 😓🤷‍♀️
📲💬 Scrolling through the comments, we discovered we weren't alone in our reaction. One fellow mom voiced her confusion: “I don’t get it I was a mom of three, and I don’t remember yelling and screaming like that especially trying to get out of the car nice”. It seemed we were not alone, but then we noticed the page owner's sharp retort... #CommentSectionSaga🗣️👥

“You must be an amazing mother with perfect children.
I look forward to your book.”

😮🔥 Whoa, talk about a digital zinger! Yes, we're living in an age of rampant keyboard warriors, but really, is this the standard reply to a follower? Is this our new way of supporting fellow parents? As a social media influencer, your following - and the products they purchase from you - is crucial for your digital success. #DigitalEtiquette 📲💼
😌👥 We thought, "Maybe this influencer is just having a bad day?" After all, we're all human. So, we decided to respond, hoping to bring some calm to the conversation. Our reply to the original mom was:
“Hey there! I had a similar reaction. Despite Facebook's suggestion, I quickly realized this isn’t my kind of account. I hope you chose to unfollow after that harsh response.” 💌🙋‍♀️
🔔💬 The notification pinged. We'd been tagged by the page owner:
“I LOVE when people announce they are unfollowing me. It means I’m striking nerves and bringing up issues that some people are uncomfortable with. Parenting is hard. We struggle. This page is a community for people that choose to laugh and find humor in the madness. There are many wonderful pages that are lollipops and filters this isn’t one. “
🙅‍♀️ Just for the record, we were never following this account. We prefer pages like #IMomSoHard (definitely worth a follow 👌) where you can share a laugh over parenting moments without belittling kids or other parents. We don't need a space that portrays parents as nap-deprived toddlers on a tantrum.
🚫😤 There's nothing humorous about yelling at a kid. This video reminded us of an overtaxed mom, up all night with a child struggling with their school work, far behind their neurotypical peers. It dredged up memories of countless IEP meetings filled with complaints about a child's shortcomings.
💔💌 It took us back to those disheartening emails listing a child's alleged transgressions against teaching staff. So, let's get real and remember to be kind - we're all in this together! #RealTalk #ParentingJourney

It reminded us that kids don’t deserve to be screamed at because a mom wants them to move faster or their lacking executive function skills
are causing her distress.

💥💔 So yes, this controversial influencer was right on one point: our nerves were indeed struck. But not because we shy away from parenting hardships - rather because we vividly recall the heartache of crying parents, including ourselves, feeling helpless as we watch our children struggle with seemingly insurmountable challenges.
🙌 Yes, parenting IS hard, especially when you're wrestling with the school system to secure fundamental rights for your child - like the right to learn to read. 📚 Just imagine fighting this battle every single day. That's way tougher than coping with your kid not having shoes on for the school pick-up.
😢 If you find humor in such videos, which, judging by the comments, many people did, we feel a pang of sadness. Social media can often desensitize us to the real struggles that other parents face. #EmpathyFirst
🤝🏽 We should be there to extend a helping hand when we see a fellow parent in distress or on the verge of a breakdown. We need to unite and ensure that ALL our children are receiving an education that is appropriate and caters to their unique needs.
💔👎 As for this type of content, we have to say it's a no from us - a hard pass.
📝 P.S. And for that parent who's losing their marbles because their kid took off their shoes... We have a simple tip coming up next. Stay tuned! 😉👟 #ParentingHack

Drive around to the back of the line and let your kid get his/her shoes on.
Problem solved!

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