Facebook Mommy Wars

I recently came across an article on my Facebook newsfeed.  I'm not even sure which one of my "liked" pages had posted the article but the title caught my attention and so I clicked.  The intro to the article was about what how social media influenced the author as a mother.  She was spending too much time at the park on her iPhone instead of playing with her children.  She was cruising Facebook off and on all day instead of really listening and paying attention to her children.  It was also a plea for other mothers and fathers to leave the social media and be with your children.  A good article with a good message...I made a mental note to myself.  However, it wasn't what I had hoped the article would be about.

I had hoped the article would be about how social media has made many of us prideful.  Yup...I said it prideful.  The status prompt back way when used to just say, "Julie Gogel is....".  But now it reads, "What's on your mind?"  And while the prompt opens up new possibilities of statuses without them reading slightly goofy it also opens up a new avenue.  Your posts can be about anything...anything at all.  You can post whatever you want.  You can upload pictures or videos of pretty much anything you want. 

The purpose of having Facebook for me is to stay in touch with family and friends.  That's it.  So I post my thoughts that are relative to my family to share with those that want to keep updated on us.  But so much of my news feed is about people bragging.  Some can't do anything or buy anything without making a post or uploading a picture.  Look at my new.....  See this awesome craft I did with my kids....I'm such a great mom because....  Look at the pictures from my kids' party....can you see how much time and money I spent on it...  (Can you tell most of my "friends" are mothers!)  But seriously...Facebook only seems to add to those so called "Mommy Wars".  It's not enough to fight about breast or formula feeding, sleeping arrangements of mom, dad, and baby, the introduction of solids, stroller or baby wearing, etc.  Now we all have to compete about parties, crafts, our homes, what we made for supper, etc.  You get the point.  Now I will allow that some people just want to share....Check out this meal I made.  It was healthy and easy so here have the link to the recipe.  But there is line between just sharing a moment and posting it with the intent of bragging.  When you can't make a craft with your kids and not upload a picture of it to share with everyone how great it was...as a reflection of you as a mother.  You are in trouble.  When you need those likes and comments to feel satisfaction or vindication then you are in also...in trouble.  When you can't buy something new or redecorate without uploading a picture or video then you guessed it...in trouble!  We live our lives for ourselves...not others.  You don't make a craft with your kids just to post it on Facebook (OH, how I hope so!) you make it to have fun with your children...to teach them... to laugh with them.  You don't make supper for your family just to plate it beautifully to post it to Facebook.  You make a wonderful supper for your family to enjoy together....so enjoy it and put away the social media.  My supper is prepped and ready to put together after I lay down for a nap...should Abel and Caraline allow it.  I can look over at our "craft wall" in the dining room and see our Easter and Spring crafts we've done so far but I won't be posting about it.  :)