Let’s start this post by getting a few things out in the open:

1. Social Media is neutral – neither good nor bad, holy nor evil. Just like money. Just like feelings.

2. Social Media is a great servant, but a terrible master. Just like money. Just like feelings. 

3. Social Media does not cure or cause cultural epidemics. It doesn’t shape the world. Neither does money. Neither do feelings.

Now let’s get into it. We’ll come back to the statements above.

CONFESSION: I fell into the comparison trap. I got sucked into a social media fantasy world where moms of 10 are glamorous, have all the time in the world, and their babies keep their poop in their diapers and never spit up on mommy’s perfectly curated outfit. And guess what? I fell – hard. I’m only lucky I got out alive. Honestly – it was tragic. But, if for no other reason, I believe I lived to see another day to write this post and tell my tale to all 5 subscribers we currently have.

So here it is – full disclosure: I tried looking cute in a new white tank.

You see, I was scrolling through Instagram – checking out the other mommy bloggers. Totally innocent, right? WRONG. For just a second, I thought to myself – “Man, their feeds look immaculate.” All their pics -professional. All their captions – written by Hemingway. Their houses are spotless – cleaner than mine PRE-CHILDREN, AND BY A LONG SHOT
Everything about them – gorgeous and [insert every glitzy adjective you can think of here]. So I thought to myself – I can do that. Lemme throw on my new white tank, do my makeup and pose like “What? You don’t wake up like this?” I wanted to attempt to take nice looking pics later for the blog and maybe feel like I had it all together for a moment. Yes, ME – the one who writes the blog with the tagline “Because you’re not supposed to have it all together.”

I ended up realizing THESE are the kind of pics this blog really needs… stained shirt and messy hair— real life.

Real life is this shirt stain which occurred WITHIN 2 HOURS of putting it on.

In trying to have it all together for the blog that’s not supposed to have it all together, I had to stop myself and realize:

• These other bloggers are real people with real issues in real life— they are not perfect. And more often than not, I see them only on their very best days.
• I am not them and that is a good thing. We— The Newlymoms— are not them and that’s a good thing. It takes all kinds of mamas to make the world go ‘round.

Now here’s where we tie it all in – A lot of people blame social media for creating a comparison trap. You know, where we compare ourselves, our dreams, our progress and our process to someone else. But social media really does get a bad rap – like pit bulls – for something it’s not. Social Media is a TOOL. And what you use that tool for and where you place it in the narrative of your life determines the affect it has on you.

Let’s all take responsibility for ourselves here. Tools don’t create, influence, build up or destroy – people do. And you, as a person, have the power to control your thoughts, feelings, actions and reactions. You can choose your influences.
So, back to the list.

1. Social Media is neutral – neither good nor bad, holy nor evil. Just like money. Just like feelings.

Social media, money, and feelings are all tools – and, as stated above, tools are always neutral. This is a question of what you do with them. Will you let social media become good or bad? Holy or evil? Choose your influence.

2. Social Media is a great servant, but a terrible master. Just like money. Just like feelings.

Social media, money, feelings all have to rank somewhere on your priority scale. This is a question of where you hold them in your heart. Will you let social media rule you? Or will you make it work for you? Will it be your servant or your master?

3.  Social Media does not cure or cause cultural epidemics. It doesn’t shape the world. Neither does money. Neither do feelings.

Social media, money, feelings – they cannot light fires on their own. Only people can do that. This is a question of responsibility. Do you want to take action in shaping your world?

Right now – my world looks a hot mess. These pics are, honestly, some of my best. Because I believe my best is confidence and security in knowing I don’t have it all together, and I don’t need to.

P.S.  The fact that this shirt lasted two whole hours without a stain is proof God exists — sheer miracle!

If you’re a mama or a mama to be, we’d love to hear from you! Feel free to comment below 🙂 And click here to subscribe to our newsletter!