Often I find myself cruising through Facebook, it can be a snatched moment at the school gate or a glimpse in the morning before putting my game face on.
I find it mildly depressing…
It makes me feel inadequate…
In my opinion Facebook is a world of extremities where normality has no place. People are either angry, and I mean really angry and they hide behind a picture issuing abuse at the world; or they are sad, really really sad and they update a commentary on all things wrong with their life and hope for a series of comments containing *hugs*. And finally, there are the pictures, these are the ones that make me feel a failure as a parent, the ones of mummy sitting down with little Bobby painting egg shells whilst baking cupcakes with toddler Tara.
I can understand the anger, people like to vent and Facebook has provided a wonderful platform where we can pretend to be anonymous. I can see the sadness, maybe a friendship can spark from this and a *hug* could turn into a real life telephone call and someone could feel better at the end of the day.
I can’t understand the craft….
If I even attempt to get the paint out my children start to get high on the fumes and start racing wildly with paintbrush in hand flicking red paint on the cream wall and treading ink into the carpet. I attempted to make glitter decorations before Christmas and my stress levels went so high that I had to lay in a darkened room all afternoon with a G & T whilst the children were minded by the Disney Channel. I still see glitter in every crevice and nook and my cream arm-chair looks like it was pooped on by a fairy.
Where do they find the time?
Not only are Facebook friends crafting, but they all seem to live in immaculate homes with mood lighting and home fires burning in the background. The children look serene as they dab a piece of paint onto paper, they don’t try to paint a sibling or give the dog a new haircut whilst mummy tries to focus the camera and then edit it on instagram.
In my house….
Photos are banned, the rooms are decorated with drying shirts, the lunchtime plates lay on top of the dishwasher waiting for the elves to put them inside side. Piles of wet undies sit on the side waiting to be fed to the tumble dryer.
To introduce craft at this point would be simply obsecene.
To bake a cupcake would be madness.
As I said, I feel a little inadequate….
Respect to the parents that get it all done, now tell me – what is the bloody secret?
So your house is just like mine after all. I do try and do activities with the kids but am often disappointed when it ends up with me screaming at them and me requiring Valium. However on a practical note. Doing an activity with one child is often easier than both, that’s my only advise.
Sarah Hill recently posted..A Mini Melodrama
But what to do with the other three?
Wait till you meet me Jane. I’ll be great for your ego – scruffy, slovenly, non-crafting. I have to crop my photos for FB to cut out the chaos of mess and unfinished renovations that reign in my house x
Mary recently posted..Silent Sunday
Can’t wait x
You are Facebook friends with the wrong people.
Instagram queen x
Ah amen to that…Facebook is just brag book for parents
Some of my friends are super fab crafters though x
Hate facebook. I left. Everyone seemed to argue/moan/whine/bitch on there constantly. It brought out the worst in me too. Every now and then my older dd tells me tales of the latest rumpus and I m so glad I am out of it. Craft wise I hate glitter – I will still be hoovering it up in June.
We could form a club….
Suggestions
1 Masking tape rules it will stick anything to anything supporting creativity in the blink of an eye and doesn’t stick to carpets or walls. I know this from trying to decorate.
2 Blog bout how certain types of vacuum cleaner “clears throat could do with a new one” aka Dyson suck up not just glitter but sequins too.
Ha x
Ha ha, you can tell we are not FB friends!
Jacq recently posted..Chicken Or The Egg?
Not a crafter?
The secret, in my experience of taking photographs, is spending 5 minutes picking up all the dirty washing/plates/toys etc and throwing them in a pile behind the couch. A picture, after all, can be framed to take in just one corner of a room.
Meanwhile, as you’re telling everyone to “say cheese” and pressing the button, the scene behind you looks like Beirut just after the bombs have dropped!
As for crafts, that’s what nursery/playgroup is for. It doesn’t happen in my house if my kids want to stay alive.
Donna@MummyCentral recently posted..Eschewing the fat: The blame game
Ditto
They get up before they go to bed.
But I do that…..
Oh they google photos of perfect homes and post them on facebook parading them as their own. Obviously! And their children are being minded by Barney on TV while they’re on facebook posting said photos
xx Jazzy
Jazzygal recently posted..A Worthy Career….
Gotta love blarney
Do you know what? I would always, always, always rather be the mum who posts the ‘other’ kind of photo on Facebook – the one where life looks chaotic and the kids are painting the dog….lets me real argh!!!!
We actually did paint the dog once…..
I think the facebook pictures you are talking about are about as real as Joan River’s face. Its all an illusion!
younglee recently posted..Sexism today
Lol
but… but… but…. there is a crafty photo right there… at the top of this post, making e feel inadequate right now!!! Serously tho, I think we all have to remember every single photo is a snap shot, a tweeny tiny moment… the rest of the 1439 minutes of the day bedlam resumes
sarahmumof3 recently posted..A snowy walk in the woods
Phew
And yet again, you’ve reminded me why I love you so much! x
Molly – Mother’s Always Right recently posted..What crafting with a toddler is REALLY like
I am special….
Not sure, my house is a tip
Emma @mummymummymum recently posted..Snow fun
So is mine and I don’t craft…
Jane, it is so nice to know I am not alone with the craft thing. I hate crafts. I can’t handle the mess and glitter…I hate the stuff. I sigh inwardly if we get a card with glitter on it. I do try and do some crafts with the kids so when the teacher asks them what they’ve been doing, it sounds like I’ve tried LOL.
I do bake cupcakes though…but that is mainly for my own pleasure…G&T for you, cake laden with icing for me
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