Maybe It’s Harder Than It Looks

The life behind the Instagram shot isn’t always as it seems.

Sure, sometimes it might be.

Maybe this person brought her Thanksgiving books and read them to her little one as they cuddled under their blanket and watched big brother play goalie in his early morning soccer game. Maybe he dove for the ball and even when he missed it he pumped himself back up, stayed positive, and kept at it. Maybe it was a fun family outing on a cool November morning and then they all walked hand-in-hand back to the car and happily piled in, buckled up, and chatted about the great game on the way home. Maybe.

Or. . .

Maybe getting everyone up on this cooler-than-expected November morning was more work than it was worth, so she left the two teenagers asleep in their beds and loaded up the player and little brother, with jackets, books, Batman helicopter, and breakfast in their hands.

Maybe little brother didn’t care about the themed books he always looks forward to at bedtime and instead wanted to crash the helicopter into Mommy’s chair and repeatedly roll down the hill right. beside. the. goal.

Maybe her goalie hasn’t learned to shake off comments and criticism, so anytime a teammate corrected him he lost his temper, as the entire sideline watched and his parents’ faces turned white.

Maybe the game was exciting, but the looong trek back to the car was a mixture of scolding, tough conversation, and then some positive affirmation. Maybe everyone was physically and mentally exhausted by 10:30 a.m. on a cool November morning.

Maybe this parenting thing is so amazing but also really hard, and sometimes frustrating, and sometimes embarrassing, and that can’t be conveyed in a simple photo post.

Maybe, when we’re scrolling through the pretty social media pictures, we should try to remember there’s a #reallife behind those perfectly angled, filtered shots, and maybe we’re all just trying to look at the bright side of our lovely, crazy, unpredictable lives.

Maybe. 😎

Love (and smile at the soccer moms who are having A DAY) more,

Dana