Parenting in the Age of Social Media: Let's Be Kinder to Each Other & Stop Parent Shaming by Courtney Battista Bish

I imagine most parents have done it: thoughtfully reviewed several photos before posting the one that doesn't have a messy house in the background, or where the car seat buckles are perfect, or where only organic, homemade food is in front of them on the tray. Because if you post a photo that doesn't meet that criteria? Welcome to parenting in the social media age, where people co-parent with you from behind their computer screens.

In the past two years, I've had comments or messages letting me know that my son shouldn't be in a kayak (too dangerous), needs a haircut (we love his curly hair), is sitting too close to the family dog (who is better with him than our old barn cat) or should eat more vegetables (hey, he has never met a pancake he didn't like).

I know my friends and family do this, mostly, out of a place of love. But, barring those situations where our child is precariously dangling off a cliff, holding a beer at a bar or riding unbuckled in a moving car, can we assume the parents in our lives are doing their best?

Let's commit to finding the good in each other as parents, and less time on critiquing each other. Because parenting is hard enough, right?