Parenting... I Always Knew I Was Doing It Wrong
My friends at Stonyfield provided me a copy of Parenting is Easy for the purpose of this review.The opinions are mine. It is my Universe, after all.
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Have you ever seen those seemingly perfect pictures of parents and thought how easy they make it look? I know I have. And my reaction has often been to wonder if I'm doing it all wrong. I mean, those kids have brushed hair. The mom has makeup on and the dad is happily building the latest IKEA hack circulating Pinterest. My life does NOT look like that.Evidently, I am not alone in this. Sara Given looked around and thought "these pictures need captions!" and thus a tumblr blog began -- It's Like They Know Us. It's a hilarious take on the unrealistic images that surround us everyday. She has now shared some of her best witticisms in a new book, Parenting is Easy; You're Probably Just Doing it Wrong. I fell in love the minute I read the title.
The book captures all those not-so-perfect parenting moments from peeing when you laugh during pregnancy to taking selfies with your teen, and everything between. I kept interrupting my hubby to show him page after page. We laughed together because we could relate personally to almost every picture. I don't have a teen yet but based on my tween interactions, I have an inkling.
Given seems to ask the question, "Why do all these people have houses full of white furniture? And how do they keep it white?"
For me, I was most annoyed by the idealized breastfeeding pics. Women resting comfortably against Everest-like rock structures with perfectly latched babies and looks of pure zen on their faces. Because that's where I wanted to nurse -- outside, against a rock. There are no soaked nursing pads and tell-tale ring markings on the blouses. Because that never happened to me... never.It seems a similar picture got Given going. For her, it was a woman nursing in the middle of a golf course. Yes, you read that right... a golf course. Oh boy, I would love to see that one!
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What's your favorite ridiculously unrealistic parenting stock photo?