Parents Who Post: What Was Shared vs. What Really Happened

Flickr user Dustin Jensen

I like to browse Facebook as much as the next stay-at-home mama, but in order to enjoy myself, I do have to remember that it's not really real. I don't need to tell you that Instagram and Facebook are inundated with happy posts of happy children and seemingly happy families, which leave many of us thinking, "Wow, they always seems so happy! What's wrong with me [my kids, my husband, my dog . . . ]?" Just remember, social media provides a very skewed reality of parenting. In fact, imagining what might really be going on behind the camera helps a lot, so here are a few (completely made-up, by the way) scenarios that you may find in your news feed — and then what probably actually happened.

What Was Posted

What Was Posted

"Sibling love #blessed" Source: Flickr user Dustin Jensen

What Really Happened

What Really Happened

"So much for clean clothes #pleasestopfighting" Source: Flickr user Dustin Jensen

What Was Posted

What Was Posted

"Wonderful family trip to Disney! #HappiestPlaceOnEarth" Source: Flickr user Betsy Watters

What Really Happened

What Really Happened

"Couldn't get her to ride anything with me #teens" Source: Flickr user Harry Heng

What Was Posted

What Was Posted

"Made these special cupcakes for my perfect lil girl today #shesgonnabesohappy" Source: Flickr user Giovanni Arteaga

What Really Happened

What Really Happened

"I guess she wanted pink cupcakes with purple sprinkles #fail" Source: Flickr user Abigail Batchelder

What Really Happened

What Really Happened

"Daddy is so on haircut duty next time #scarredforlife" Source: Flickr user Eric Ritchey

What Was Posted

What Was Posted

"Amazing day at the park #100happydays" Source: Flickr user Kona Gallagher

What Really Happened

What Really Happened

"Mulch in the shoe meltdown #whydoplaygroundsuseit" Source: Flickr user Kona Gallagher

What Was Posted

What Was Posted

"He's going to be an artist #lookoutPicasso" Source: Flickr user aaron gilson

What Really Happened

What Really Happened

"I'm gonna kill him #threesarewaymoreterrible" Source: Flickr user Liza

What Was Posted

What Was Posted

"What great little helpers I have #HappyEaster" Source: Flickr user Philip Dean

What Was Posted

What Was Posted

"Real men do diapers #Ilovemyman" Source: Flickr user makelessnoise

What Really Happened

What Really Happened

"Another day in the life of raising two children #gonnareusethose" Source: Flickr user Michael Thompson

What Was Posted

What Was Posted

"Best friends forever #IloveALLmykids" Source: Flickr user Gúnna

What Really Happened

What Really Happened

"Poor cat #bottomofthetotempole" Source: Flickr user Aka Hige

What Was Posted

What Was Posted

"My ballerina is ready for her big debut! #futurestar" Source: Flickr user Dan Hatton

What Really Happened

What Really Happened

"And I paid how much for this? #terrified" Source: Flickr user Paulette and Dave Brown

What Really Happened

What Really Happened

"Meltdown because he wasn't allowed to pull the animals' tails #purell" Source: Flickr user Joel Kramer