If you’re a mom in today’s world, then chances are you’re fed up. I know I am.
Moms today are expected to work 40 hours a week (or more), take care of their children, clean the house, make organic meals, and do it all while looking like an Instagram model.
One mom finally decided enough is enough and laid out all the ridiculous standards moms are supposed to uphold in a post that’s sparking a lot of conversation.
Sarah Buckley Friedberg is a working mom of three who decided to lay out the unrealistic expectations placed on modern moms.
Not only is her viral rant hilarious, it also explains all the ways our society doesn’t support working mothers.
Sarah starts off by explaining how most moms in United States are barely given any maternity leave.
“Go back to work 6-8 weeks after having the baby. The baby that you spent 9-10 months growing inside of your body. Go back to work before you have finished healing or have had time to bond with your baby,” she wrote .
Then Sarah dives into breastfeeding and how doing it for a year is very challenging while also working full-time.
“Also breastfeed for at least a year. So take 2-3 pumping breaks a day at work, but don’t let it throw you off your game or let you lose your focus,” she said.
And, let’s not forget that moms are supposed to bounce back and lose all the baby weight as soon as possible.
“Also, lose that baby weight and get back in shape, as quickly and as gracefully as possible. Make sure to get 8 hours of sleep a night so you can work out, work, and care for your family,” she said.
Guess what, moms? You get to be the master planner for the entire family. Yay…
“Maintain the schedule for the entire family. Birthday parties coming up? Make sure to have presents! Ensure the kids are learning to swim, play an instrument, read, ride a bike, be a good human being, eat vegetables, wear sunscreen, drink enough water, say please and thank you,” she said.
Oh, and don’t forget about your spouse or partner! You need to work on that relationship, too!
“Date your spouse! It’s important to keep your relationship alive and fresh. Try to go out 1-2 times a month. Good, kid free time. Hire a babysitter, they charge 22+ dollars an hour in your area so make sure to take out an extra mortgage and/or work another job to be able to afford this,” she said.
Since posting this piece on her Facebook page, Sarah’s rant has gone viral.
The post currently has about 53,000 shares and 12,000 comments.
A lot of moms who are feeling similar pressures commented on the post (good luck with that Statue of Liberty costume, by the way).
One commenter pointed out that working moms are pulled between two worlds.
Many workplaces aren’t very accommodating for a busy mom’s schedule (not to mention taking care of sick kids, taking them to appointments, and doing it all on little or no sleep).
At the same time, being a parent is a full-time job in itself, and moms are expected to go above and beyond to ensure their kids are getting the best things in life.
Sarah’s post has highlighted many of the unfair pressures we put on moms.
It’s definitely started some important conversations and will, hopefully, inspire others to keep working towards making life easier for working mothers.
To all the moms out there, you’re doing great. As this post shows, you’re not the only ones struggling to keep up with those unrealistic expectations.
