Unrealistic parenting videos? Or is it just me?

[123bumblebee]

I keep getting videos suggested for me on social media, "days in my life with a baby/toddler/5 children" etc, I guess because I have a 17 month old and am getting targeted from other things I have watched. Usually a very well dressed mum, alone in a kitchen preparing breakfast/dinner alone in silence with no sight of children around them.

I can't help thinking "where on earth are your children?!". Is it just me who had a child constantly around my legs and asking me to pick them up when I try to do ANYTHING?

Usually also videos of folding laundry in a similar way (my child throws the washing around), cleaning (mine grabs at anything I get out and demands they have it and she's so freaking strong I struggle to get it out of her hands).

I'm starting to wonder if my experiencing of parenting is very different from other people's? We are currently thinking about number 2 and both of the mindset that we are not particularly keen to do this again because of how hard it has been and some health issues I have had post birth. But yet people on social media seem to be popping out baby after baby with no issues!

Don't worry, it's all lies.

Your life sounds fine, healthy and normal.

Blows my mind. I have just one 6w old baby and I can't do any basic life tasks i.e. Pop for a quick wee, get a glass of water, have some breakfast, without being almost constantly screamed at! Parenting is hard!

People don’t video the bad stuff. Why would they? They’re selling a lifestyle.

Having said that, a lot depends on the nature of the baby and some people get very easy ones who slot into life easier than others do. Those people aren’t necessarily lying, they’re just fortunate.

It's all just snapshots isn't it? Brief periods of someone's day. Mix in different child temperaments too. I've been fortunate to have had two very easy babies/toddlers (well DD2 is only 14mo so yet to explore that fully!) who generally have let me get on with things - DD2 is quite happy to wander around with a toy or sit in her high chair and bang a spoon on a saucepan or just watch what I'm doing and chat at me, days at home with just her are incredibly chilled and easy v when her older sister is also there! But every child is different - some require more input, some are happy with solo play, some go through separation anxiety to various degrees. Everyone's experience is different.

I could easily take some videos of me having a quiet time doing chores in a day, but then I could that same day take a video of me chasing DD2 to get her away from the cat and trying to stop her climbing over the back of the sofa.

That's because ITS NOT REAL!!
just attention seeking twats looking for views.
They'll never post a video of them have a one eyed spicy poo at 8am will they.

There is one particular IG account that winds me up no end (and no I don't know why I still watch it) but the mum is so unbearably smug at her perfect toddler who apparently never has a meltdown, never refuses to walk, plays alone for hours on end, makes her own fucking dinner age 2 and probably wipes its own arse.

Nope, you have a normal baby and all the videos are staged upon lies.

Every day I see something on Instagram that grinds my gears. None of it is realistic. Sleep windows has to be the main one that makes me laugh. Try telling a baby they're not following their sleep windows 😂😂😂 a mum from a baby group mentioned something about having had two sleep windows go to plan in a row and how great that was. I had no idea how to respond other than 'great!' - what a measure to put yourself up against 🙄

Omg sleep windows. I drove myself crazy listening to other people on sleep and the "perfect wake windows". Turns out my child doesn't follow the rules that people say she should! Even paid £££ for a bloody sleep consultant to try to "fix" her who basically made me torture my child for 2 nights before I told her to shove her plan.

I just look around at everyone who isn't swearing at their pram as they try to ram it into their car boot, or struggling with a toddler who is having a tantrum and think that they all have their shit together and I don't. Reassuring to hear its not just me!

I could go to the cinema and watch a film about a dog talking doesn't mean dogs can talk

These videos are staged surely you realise this? It is not real but even if it was why would it matter? It is not you or me or maybe a lot of us you don't have to turn it into something

You are not alone! I regularly swear at the pram, myself, the shower, whatever thing chooses not to work in the moment 😂

For me its the immaculate cream/beige clothes the mums wear, that would be stained in spit up, spilt tea, general grime from cleaning the house if it were me 😂 and don't get me started on the elaborate iced coffee they all seem to have time to prepare each morning...

People only post the best bits of their lives on Sm. Think about it - who wants to see the shit stuff?

It doesn't mean that they don't have the shit bits though.

It also doesn't mean that what they show isn't real either, all babies and children are different.