STOP IT, MOM

How Much Bragging About Our Kids Is Too Much?

On Relationship Ratios, Social Media Stanning, and the Mom Stalkarazzi

Enough about our human show ponies, already? (Image: Photo by Grandpix, modified in Canva. No copyright infringement intended; comment for removal)

My kid did something cool this weekend. And, like a good Xennial mother, I immediately posted the pics.

Easter rides in her first major equestrian jumping show. (Image: Photo by Grandpix Photo; modified in Canva. No copyright infringement intended; comment for removal.)

Easter, my 17-year-old daughter, competed in her first rated horse show. She placed first in several hunter classes — one of which, as she learned moments before her practice run, had jumps that were 3" higher than she’d ever practiced. (Surprise!)

Even if she hadn’t pulled it off or won the ribbons, I’d still be proud. And I did my mom thang, dutifully photo-documenting the weekend and buying the professional photos. But as I clapped, snapped, and posted away, a sort of self-flagellation won out.

When you have a lot of kids — and when those kids do lively and photogenic things — your social media accounts start to look like one big brag.

“Get a life, girl,” my friends and #WritersofInstagram could be forgiven for thinking.