New Shaming Trend Aimed At Moms

Parents magazine, always in the know, recently covered this new shaming trend targeting moms in an article warning us to watch out.

Recently, other moms just like you and I (not celebrities or public figures) have been attacked on social media for their parenting choices. Two recent cases involve breastfeeding and the use of a baby carrier.  Here's what happened:

These moms were shamed for not doing something “correctly” by strangers online.

In one story, a store manager took a photo of a mom wearing her 5-year-old child while shopping and posted it on her personal Facebook page with critical comments. The photo went viral, and the mom in the photo later saw it.

In another story, a stranger took a photo of a mom nursing her baby in a restaurant, posted it online and commented that she needed to “cover up.” The photo went viral, the mom in the photo saw it.

It's scary to think that at any moment someone could snap a photo of you parenting your kids and share it with the world. Imagine discovering that photo has gone viral and reading the hurtful comments strangers have attached to the image as they hide behind the anonymity of their keyboards… it's frightening.

I keep picturing someone snapping a photo of me hauling my toddler out of the park the other day when he didn't want to leave or a snapshot of me in a stained t-shirt and yoga pants spit cleaning my kid's face in the grocery store parking lot because he's suddenly a sticky, chocolate mess after I let him have m&ms to keep him quiet in the store. I don't want to think about it.

The writers at Parent's magazine want us to remember:

It's hard to silence the inner judgey voices we hear in our heads, but people need to mind their own business. Unless you see parents doing something that is truly dangerous to their child, stay out of it!

It can be hard not to comment our thoughts to our friends on social media. Recently I saw a video a friend posted of a baby laughing as mom made bubbles in the tub for her. I couldn't even focus on the cuteness because I was judging that mom in the video for making the beloved bath bubbles with an electric whisk plugged in behind her. It was so hard not to leave a judgey comment on the video. Doesn't that mom know she could have easily dropped that electric kitchen appliance into the tub and electrocuted her precious child? I typed up a harsh comment, but thankfully thought better and pressed delete. Instead I opted for a sincere and kind reminder that while cute, it wasn't very safe.

Are you guilty of judging other moms on social media? Have you been the victim of social media mommy shaming? How did you handle it? How would you handle it if you were in their shoes?

Read more at Parent's magazine.