Just let me have my Instagram illusion

I came across an article on Relevant today (Stop Instramming Your Perfect Life), and while I agree with its premise, it made me pause and think about my own online life.

For many of us, walking away from the Internet isn’t an option. But using it to connect instead of compare is an option, and a life-changing one. Using technology to build community instead of building carefully-curated images of ourselves is an option, and a worthwhile one.

Am I one of those moms who’s putting up a fake front of perfect-looking Instagram shots and Miss Sunny Sunshine status updates? Sometimes, I am. But it’s not because I’m afraid to show my real life. It’s not because I want others to think I’m perfect, or that just-real-enough perfection that is Jennifer Lawrence’s Oscar interview. I take these photos, and crop them, and filter them, and share them, to remind myself that there ARE parts of my life that are pretty awesome.

In my mind, I will always remember the reality of raising small children, but I’d like to look back and see the blessings, not the blowouts and blemishes. Well, at least not all of them. And if you think you’re any different, ask yourself this. When sifting through old photos, and you come across one of yourself that is completely unflattering, do you display it on a shelf, or tuck it away hoping nobody digs it out? Or, better yet, do you throw it away? The one with the pimples, the bad hair, the fifty extra pounds you lost? Is it the one you have in a frame? Probably not.

And so it is with my online photo gallery. From time to time, I look back on these shiny moments, REAL moments, and remember how blessed I am. I’m not trying to fake anything, I’m just trying to remind myself that life is good. There are beautiful moments. While these are the photos I took today, I’d like to be completely transparent about what happened before or after these moments. The moments I didn’t photograph. Please forgive me, but I’d like to keep my Instagram illusion.

Here are a few other moments I decided not to broadcast today as part of my online scrapbook:

– A huge puddle of pee on my hardwood floor

– The chicken noodle soup my toddler smeared all over the table

– The way my daughter shot me a death look when I told her she couldn’t have more juice

– My mismatched socks, out-of-style jeans, or complete lack of makeup

– My dog’s gag-inducing flatulence that she’s been spreading all over the house (if you could see a smell)

This was right before they decided to stack up a pile of wood, and take turns pushing each other off, resulting in huge meltdowns and boo-boos for both. Oh, and note the mismatched outfits. That’s how we roll. 

This was right before baby sister decided to dump out the ENTIRE bottle of bubble solution all over herself and the gravel, resulting in big sister yelling at her that she “ruins everything.”

See that cute face? Well, her feet are covered in stinky chicken poop, and she’s about to get an entire bottle of water dumped on her face. More meltdowns.