Friday, July 17, 2009

The Perils of Social Networking

Sometimes I think blogs and facebook do me more harm than good. I like staying updated on what everyone's up to, but sometimes it's all too easy to start thinking that everyone's life is as breezy as it seems through status updates and photo-filled blogs. (BTW, if anyone knows what episodes of Friends I'm referencing with the word "breezy," I'll send you a prize!)

Exhibit A
A friend's status update on facebook: "So-and-so is making more cookies than she and the hubby could possibly consume."

You know what? I made cookies that day too. But it was with an 11-month-old clinging to my legs (whining), making it surprisingly hard to get around my tiny kitchen. (I've been having one of those weeks where I want to scream at anyone who doesn't have a child yet to ENJOY EVERY MOMENT because you have no idea how free you are. Not that I don't absolutely love my boy, because I do.)

I would provide more exhibits, but I don't want you to think I'm a total downer. I know I have so, so much to be thankful for. But please also know that just because my blog is filled with a lot of smiley photos doesn't mean we're any different than you in real life.

With that said, I'm going to go clean something.



PS. I'd love to know if anybody else ever thinks this way too.

13 comments:

  1. Yeah, I agree! It's so easy to read about everyone's wonderful experiences- and wonder if they ever have anything to worry about! I know I'm guilty- it's harder to share your struggles and "failures" and set yourself up to be judged. Although, I think life is so much easier when you remember you're not the only one with problems and weak moments!

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  2. Of course this is how it really is. One only needs to come over to my house and spend 5 minutes in our presence to know we are not a glowing house of perfect bliss. Life happens and it's not pretty, a good portion of the time (or just tediously mundane,) but the blog shows us the highlights and allows us to share with others the joy we find in between the chaos and frustrations we all face. Especially (like you and me) when we live away from so many that we want to share highlights with as often as possible.

    You are doing GREAT!...and so are we. :)

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  3. Oh, and David's guess for the "breezy" comment is from Season 3- Monica leaves a message on Richard's machine and tells her friends it was a "casual breezy message.. it was breezy!"

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  4. Agreed! Blogs only show the best of course! I'm happy when I actually "cook" something for Dan maybe once a week or so. My accomplishments for today was to tidy up the house a little. My next job is putting away those 2 huge piles of clean laundry. Yuck!

    PS. I shall enjoy my child-less time. It seems like those without kids are jealous of kids and vice-versa. Fun times for all!

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  5. Being with your children 24/7 is the most frustrating, joyous, blood-pressure-raising, fulfilling, lonely, special experiences we're both lucky enough to go through. I think it's amazing how it stretches you as a person. Just remember the light at the end of the tunnel... Trenton will be old enough to babysit so you can go take a breather ANYTIME YOU WANT in a mere 11 years. :)

    P.S. Talia says the breezy episode of Friends was on just yesterday and that Ashley is right. (Do I get a prize for confirming?!)

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  6. Amen sister. My blog/facebook life are closer to fiction than reality.

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  7. You are not alone!! I feel the very same way. I have almost forgotten what life was like with out a little one to always look after. I can't even remember the last time I went on a bike ride or did some of the things that I loved to do before. Like you, I wouldn't trade being a mother for anything - but I have those unruly days also! Hang in there! You are such a fantastic mother!!

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  8. TOTALLY! I just always have to remember that people post the good stuff. I love that you just tell it how it is :)

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  9. Here's a secret... Very recently I asked Isaac to take Olivia out for the afternoon. NOT so I could rest, read, or relax. Because I wanted to actually CLEAN MY HOUSE. I wanted to be able to really really clean without trying to vacuum one-handed or without shouting at Olivia as she followed behind me making messes everywhere that I'd just cleaned.
    Being a mom is so very wonderfully, frustratingly, out of control awesome. :)

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  10. Amen! Ironically, when I read this post I had been changing a poopy diaper about every hour and I was tired but the munchkin was and had just broken out the chocolate... and I thought to myself how much I wished I would have gotten your advice 9 months ago. It's amazing how much having a baby changes life. You become a logistical thinker in that you are always trying to gauge how hard it will be to do something with ze bebe.

    Thanks for saying something. It really helps to know that one is not the only person to feel this way!

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  11. * the munchkin was hungry and I had broken out the chocolate. If you didn't notice already, it is almost 4 a.m. my time as I am commenting... the baby is eating!

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  12. I actually gave a talk in church a couple months ago and mentioned this same problem. It's SO easy for everyone's life to seem perfect on a blog because nobody puts up the posts or status updates that say "I feel like I'm going crazy today because I'm stuck in the house with a whining baby!" I think it does damage to our relationships sometimes because it makes it harder to reach out and have compassion when we feel like everyone else has a breezy life all the time. So I'm glad you posted about this. Glad to know I'm not the only one!

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  13. Yes(!) to Ashely/David and Mary/Talia about the Friends reference. And thanks, guys! You're all wonderful!

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