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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To say that you can take your Instagram homeschooling smugness and

131 replies

sparklefarts · 21/01/2021 11:58

Fuck off??

Well am I unreasonable?!?

People I know in real life who I always thought of as lovely seem to have developed a need to post every single bit of homeschooling on insta with smug happy children, all smiles and love and look at our little wonderful bubble.

I know behind the scenes it's probably not quite as all smiles as they suggest.

Most of it seems to be 'look at me I thought of this fantastic activity for my delightful smiling easy children'
It's bullshit isn't it?

But what compels people to do it??

I'm not even that bitter. We're doing OK with homeschooling. We post the work to the teachers teams page and that's that. I know lots of people are struggling so would never dream of posting how brilliant it is everywhere (it isn't brilliant)

Maybe I just needed that rant.

OP posts:
Freyaismyname · 21/01/2021 15:02

All social media platforms are designed for attention and likes.

DifficultPifcultLemonDifficult · 21/01/2021 15:17

I hope you're teaching them to say 'have' not 'of'

What was the point in posting that? Are you one of those people who build themselves up by tearing others down? Hmm

Bluesheep8 · 21/01/2021 15:21

Absolutely not, it was a joke. But I can see it was inappropriate and for that I apologise.

Starlight39 · 21/01/2021 15:23

I think people do this for a variety of reasons - sometimes things are really hard for them too so when ONE thing goes right in the midst of moaning kids, non-working tech etc etc, they post that moment and it looks like they're being really smug when actually they're just relieved that they got something done that day. Of course sometimes it's general smugness but I think it comes down to insecurity more often than not.

handsandfeet · 21/01/2021 16:04

I wonder this too

Oh, so you're doing painting. Well done! I mean I get that people are proud of their kids and want to share things. Bit seriously, every day. Eye roll

lollipoprainbow · 21/01/2021 16:27

@ShipshapeShore they are unbearably smug the pair of them !

lollipoprainbow · 21/01/2021 16:31

@Iknowwhatudidlastsummer oh do be quiet !

Iknowwhatudidlastsummer · 21/01/2021 17:26

[quote lollipoprainbow]@Iknowwhatudidlastsummer oh do be quiet ! [/quote]
not sure why refusing to join in the competitive misery is spoiling your fun?

Quaagars · 21/01/2021 18:15

I refuse to believe I am the only person who has real friends and actually enjoy seeing their posts! At least it's a distraction It might help that I don't have a chip on my shoulder, if I see some amazing activity and creation they've made, I am not jealous and bitter, I think good for them, even if I can't be arsed to even attempt it

Agree with this

lollipoprainbow · 21/01/2021 18:41

@Iknowwhatudidlastsummer maybe don't comment on a post where we are having a Moan then maybe go and find a thread where all the other smug instagrammers are flaunting their happy schooling pictures and let us wallow in our annoyance??

Quaagars · 21/01/2021 19:03

[quote lollipoprainbow]@Iknowwhatudidlastsummer maybe don't comment on a post where we are having a Moan then maybe go and find a thread where all the other smug instagrammers are flaunting their happy schooling pictures and let us wallow in our annoyance?? [/quote]
If they annoy you so much, why not step away or unfollow them?

LadyFidgetAndHerHandbag · 21/01/2021 19:25

One of my friends is lifting my lockdown by sharing pictures of her 4 year old's spelling on Instagram which has included "ples cum otside" and "I lik yoo"

BogRollBOGOF · 21/01/2021 19:25

I used the 30 day snooze button a lot in the first lockdown. Ithought I'd long since accepted that I don't have nice, crafty compliant children that like doing wholesome things with mummy, but I'm clearly not. People sharing it were doing nothing wrong, but it was just best to hide it.

I post little bits of things that make me happy. Last spring/ summer it was mainly naturey country walks. I also post daft/ funny/ inept stuff and anyone that knows me should know that I don't aspire to a perfect magazine type life in the slightest.

Iknowwhatudidlastsummer · 21/01/2021 19:42

lollipoprainbow

It's AIBU, it IS the place to post to tell you how ridiculous and unreasonable you are Grin

People who follow others just to find material to bitch and moan about are so much worst than the original instagrammer.

boysonthesofa · 21/01/2021 20:09

Maybe you should post something about your day instead of scrolling through and feeling resentment? It might help you feel better?

boysonthesofa · 21/01/2021 20:10

@Iknowwhatudidlastsummer

Why are people so bitter? Hmm

Some people are lonely, some parents are bored out of their head, some parents are putting a lot of effort in homeschooling, good for them. Some even have friends and family who are supportive and enjoy being in touch that way!

If I had someone like you following me OP, I think I would make stuff up and post JUST to wind up Grin

It's hard, and juggling homeschooling and a full time job is a pain in the backside, but not all of us are having an nightmare either, sorry to burst your little bubble of misery.

Exactly this. Judge not!
lovepickledlimes · 21/01/2021 21:20

This actually makes me very sad. My mum used to often bake with me and do arts and crafts. She even gasps took pictures, there is also plenty of me grumpily doing my chinese or math worksheets and I grumpy sit at my study desk before anyone thinks it is all sunshine and roses. I was looking forward to doing the same with my future DC and would have likely posted the process and results online... I would hate to think anyone would think it is me trying to be smug

Quaagars · 21/01/2021 21:31

@lovepickledlimes

This actually makes me very sad. My mum used to often bake with me and do arts and crafts. She even gasps took pictures, there is also plenty of me grumpily doing my chinese or math worksheets and I grumpy sit at my study desk before anyone thinks it is all sunshine and roses. I was looking forward to doing the same with my future DC and would have likely posted the process and results online... I would hate to think anyone would think it is me trying to be smug
Flowers Don't let other people put you off, it says more about them than it does about you just posting about your day. If someone has a problem with seeing your crafts/baking whatever, it's their issue, not yours.
Hotzenplotz · 21/01/2021 21:33

Fuck Instagram, it's full of shite.

Norwayreally · 21/01/2021 21:33

I don’t use social media anymore partly due to this, it’s just so fake.

lovepickledlimes · 21/01/2021 21:34

@Quaagars my cousin posts what her and her family are up to and especially the kids I really enjoy as they are all the way in the US so it's the main way I see them etc

Dee1975 · 21/01/2021 21:35

Absolutely hate them! And the other ones, the ones that don’t work, going on about how stressful it is. Sorry, appreciate that may hit some of you. But you can buggar off too!! Try working 7.5 hours with consent interruptions AND then doing home schooling on top ...

LyndaSnellsSniff · 21/01/2021 21:38

Yes it's smug but, meh, it's social media. It's all bollox.

Either snooze 'em or comment with; "Jolly good effort! But remember, no one likes a show off!"

Iknowwhatudidlastsummer · 21/01/2021 22:05

But remember, no one likes a show off!

oh please do, it does make you sound like an absolute twat
😂

If you translate any photo that makes you jealous as "show off", the problem I you I am afraid.

BoyTree · 22/01/2021 14:02

At a time when people are more disconnected from their friends and family than ever before, I can't find it in me to be annoyed that some people are reaching out to their friends (and supporters, depending on the platform) to share their days. Normally, we would have people in our lives that would share the minutiae with us - colleagues discussing their dinner plans, school run friends trying to guess which of their children will be dirtiest etc - but now we don't have those little interactions that make us feel 'seen'. Social media should be an awesome way to replicate those by putting little snippets out there and letting those who want to engage do so.

It's a shame that so many people see it as a competition - I assume that those who want to be 'friends' with me online generally wish me well or at least don't think I'm a massive bellend who is going out of my way to make them feel bad. I hope I'm not wrong on that!

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