Last Saturday, I was up earlier than normal. As Allen was getting ready to go with me to accomplish some last minute shopping and Braylen was still sleeping, I pulled up Facebook on my phone. And I scrolled through to see a status update from someone I didn’t even know. Thanks to the new (or maybe old, I’m not sure) way Facebook allows things to be shared I come across tons of pictures, status updates and links, from people and pages I’ve never heard of. This time, I read this particular status to myself as I shook my head from side to side in disagreement. The words before me on the screen certainly carried validity, I won’t deny that.
But it was the line regarding the “Pinterest era” that earned an eye roll from me.
I’m a little tired of hearing the same ol’ “Pinterest mom” argument. I’m over the “Pinterest era” and I’m fed up with blame and the constant comparison to Pinterest. I’m irritated when I hear that each time Pinterest is on the computer screen it makes someone feel like a bad mother, like a domestic failure. And I’m speaking a little tougher than I normally do because I really need your attention. Because I’m afraid we’re buying into all of this hype, that we really believe that we can blame a feeling of inadequacy on a website, that we are making it okay to compare ourselves to others because this is the “era” that we live in.
Pinterest isn’t one single person. The only idea Pinterest has is the website design (albeit a really good one) and the concept of “pinning” pictures to an online “pin board.” Pinterest doesn’t make things for classroom parties, it doesn’t stay up late sewing Halloween costumes. It is simply a website that serves as a pretty way to categorize ideas sourced from the world wide web. Once upon a time, this was known as “book marking,” but then Pinterest packaged it up really pretty and gave us a new way to book mark. A more streamlined way to categorize things deemed noteworthy while perusing the internet.
Pinterest isn’t a tool for me to measure my ability to parent or make a casserole or decorate my home.
Pinterest is composed of thousands and thousands of people, sharing their ideas with one another. I’d be willing to bet, out of all the pins I’ve collected very few of them would source back to the same website. Pinterest is a fancy holder of good ideas and inspiration, not a person who stays up late making cake pops in an effort to make me feel like a domestic failure. I will always come up short if I measure myself against a website full of ideas from tons of other people, sharing their individual talents and hobbies, giving their best. And making that comparison? That’s as silly as thinking I should cook every meal like Paula Deen, decorate as impeccably as Nate Berkus, throw a party like Mindy Weiss and craft as well as Martha Stewart. And I should do all of this with the body of Heidi Klum and the style of Kate Middleton. And if I don’t live up to my online pinboards? Then I lose, the internet wins. As crazy as it sounds, that is exactly what women all over the internet are doing when they blame Pinterest if they feel inferior regarding a parenting choice, or when they make up this fictional “Pinterest mom” persona.
The pins we see are a collection of fun things from the internet, not one persons trophy case. It makes me sad that we, as women and mothers, are using this as a tool to drive a wedge between one another. If you never make organic baby food for your child, fine. But it’s okay if you make every single bite of food your child ever puts into his or her mouth, too. We can’t get past this until we recognize that neither side is wrong in their choice to follow a maternal instinct.
I have ranted and raved, stood high up on my soap box and I’m calling out Pinterest for what it is, a website. It is incapable of inflicting guilt and it doesn’t compare us to one another, we do that to ourselves. Mothers fall short, we get behind, we feel pressure to look or be like someone else, this isn’t a new phenomenon created by Pinterest. If you were standing right in front of me, I would take your hand and look you in the eye and because I believe it with all of my heart, I would say this:
Whether you are up late sewing your child’s first birthday outfit, or buying it from Target. Whether you bake wholesome applesauce cookies for dessert, or you pick up two-bite brownies on your weekly grocery run. Whether you pressed your child’s tiny hand into salt dough this season, or the only handprint you have to commemorate this season is the dirty one left on the wall. Whether a mischievous little elf showed up this month to turn your milk green and adorn your tree with toilet paper, or you have no idea what I’m even talking about.
Your child thinks you are greater than any mom you see on the internet or anywhere else in the whole world. And if you never bake a “pin-worthy” cookie. If you never pack a Bento-style lunch box. If you have no desire to ever hold a 5-minute plank, or make a tissue paper pom-pom, or paint your furniture like a chalkboard. If you always want to sign up for paper goods for the class party. Your child will be just fine, you will be the one they confide in, the one they share their fears and dreams with, the one they want when they are scared and the first person they want to share their good news with.
Recognize what you can do, what you love to do, what makes you the best mother and throw the rest aside.
So let’s tell our children that we love them as often as we can, let’s comfort them when they are scared, and instill in them a great sense of faith and love. Let’s raise up good leaders with giving hearts. And if there’s time in between, if you even want to, fill in the gaps with fun things you are inspired to recreate from the internet or from television or from a friend.
Just don’t let it become a tool for measuring your ability to parent, don’t let it turn you against every mother who parents differently.
i couldn’t agree with you more!!!
Pinterest is nothing but a modern day “tearing a page out of a magazine”. Our moms and grandmas have done that for years and years. It’s the modern day ” going to your crafty girlfriends house for lunch after church and seeing a wreath she made and getting an idea from her”. Nothing has changed- it’s just the method of delivery. I don’t really understand why Pinterest is so “overwhelming” or capable of making someone feel bad about themselves- do these people not subscribe to magazines?
I’m kind of tired of people scoffing at those of us who ENJOY the crafting, gardening, cooking, sewing, entertaining, etc. Those may not be your jam..that’s fine. But there is no reason to make fun of those of us who do enjoy it. Obviously not directed at you, I just mean in general. It’s a typical jab when someone brings up Pinterest.
I couldn’t agree with this comment (and this post) more! It is so true. Pinterest isn’t responsible for making us feel inferior…we do that to ourselves!
This is an AMAZING post! That is so true! I feel like we judge each other as mothers entirely too much.
Now I’m going to go pin this post, haha! 🙂
Preach it, sister. Although this season of “comparison” isn’t new at all, I feel like pinterest is definitely amplifying it. A very good post!
AMEN!!!
Great post!!!!!
well written.
This post is so spot-on. Thank you for being bold enough to call it like it is. Your encouragement for all women and mothers is refreshing and I am so grateful for your words. Exactly what I needed to hear.
LOVE!!!
I could not have said this better myself! Thank you for being so honest & sharing this!! Great post!!
You hit the nail on the head! Thank you for such an inspiring post!
This is perfect! Couldn’t have said it better myself.
I used to loathe Pinterest. I saw all of the cool crafts, decorative parties, lunches shaped like pirate ships…. it totally overwhelmed me and I swore to never ‘pin’. I even wrote a long blog post about it. My cousin respectfully disagreed with me and I decided to give Pinterest a try. I actually found things that I was good at like cooking and (gasp) some crafts. Haha!
I love how you encourage people to find what they are good at and thrown the rest aside. That was the conclusion I came to and my family is so much better for it.
It was never really about pinning. It was about coming into my own as a mother and wife and being confident in that.
Yes! Thank you! I have never felt inadequate because of Pinterest, just grateful for a place to get good ideas. Unfortunately, it is so easy to compare and we need to stop doing that. Who cares what so-and-so that you never met did with their free time that you might not have? Thank you for sharing this!
I totally agree with you! I feel like if anything, blog world makes me feel inadequate because I compare myself to living people – some I dont even know! I shouldnt do that either. As for pinterest, I agree with everything you said and I love pinning stuff because it gives me ideas and things to try – some that work and some that dont. Thanks for this post!
THIS is what should “go viral”, not that other woman’s FB status…to which I found myself totally agreeing. That is until I read this!
Thank you for this post. I completely agree and couldn’t have said it better myself!
I totally agree, I love Pinterest for the ideas it gives me. I would love to do more than I am able to, but when life is busy you have to just enjoy it. There is no sense is getting upset that you aren’t like someone else.
Well said, Jennifer! I totally agree. I have found myself annoyed with my inability to keep up with others on Pinterest, but then remind myself that 1) I can’t keep up with millions of women and all of their passions and 2) surely people have as many activities/beautiful rooms/yummy recipes pinned simply for inspiration or reference, just like I do. Just because it’s pinned doesn’t mean it actually happened!
I couldn’t agree more!! Well said 🙂
wonderful post!! When I read the comments on feeling less than because of pinterest or a blog, I often wonder, should i feel like that?? I’m so glad I don’t!! I love looking at pretty things, some are for me, some are not. I love seeing all the ideas out there, to me its like all of us women are trying to help each other!!
you always have such an amazing way with words! I could not agree more! As much as I would love to do so many Pinterest items, time sometimes gets in the way and spending time with my little girl is much more important. Love, love your post!
Well said. Amen!