In our society, there are many taboo topics. Over the years, certain causes have come a long way in raising public awareness. I’m thinking especially of mental health. Still, the standard exchange—“How are you?” / “I’m fine, and you?”—is still the norm. You shouldn’t say you’re not doing well—it makes people uncomfortable.
It’s the same with social media. You rarely see photos of children in distress or of someone crying. I’ll admit it—I filter my photos. I’m not talking here about using technology to edit certain photos to make them look prettier. What I’m talking about is posting beautiful photos of my kids—when everything is peaceful. Of my baby smiling. Of my two-year-old who’s proud of the dandelions she picked. Of my older kids taking a walk in the woods, with their arms around each other’s shoulders.
I’ll admit it: I post these photos to convince myself that things aren’t always going badly. That my baby doesn’t just cry all the time, even if that’s how it seems to me. That my two-year-old isn’t having endless tantrums, even if she just had one that lasted over an hour and even slapped me. That my older kids are capable of getting along, even though most of the time I’m making sure no one has a nosebleed because the blows are flying left and right. In short, I’m constantly dealing with chaos, and no one realizes it.
I just don’t talk about it because in our society, that’s not something you’re supposed to do. When you bring it up, you get judged. Everyone judges everyone else, but deep down, everyone’s the same. No one’s perfect.
But I’ll tell you this: keep posting those beautiful photos on social media. It helps to focus on the positive and keep moving forward through the turmoil, because we always know that sunny days will eventually return after the storm. On the other hand, we also need to speak up when we’ve had enough and take a step back to see the good things that come along from time to time. I’m telling you: even if you don’t say it, I know what you’re going through. If you feel like it and need to unload some of your burden, don’t hesitate to comment below—you’re sure to find someone going through the same thing who can offer support or advice.