INSTAGRAM MOMS ARE FULL OF SH*T

A road map for mothers tired of an abundance of online “mom shaming.”

Prosko begins her exploration of the perils of comparative mothering by defining mom shaming, which is “criticizing, judging, or degrading a mother based on her parenting choices,” noting that critics’ negative statements aren’t typically based on research but on personal opinions. Urging mothers to avoid passing judgment on other mothers, the author describes the many different aspects of motherhood that fall prey to mom shaming, from exercise during pregnancy to birth plans, vaccinations, sleep training, and working outside the home. In addition to providing emotional support, encouraging mothers to trust their guts and “ignore all the shamers out there who want you to feel like you are doing something wrong,” Prosko, a healthcare worker and paramedic by training, gives guidance on many aspects of motherhood and the healthcare system. She acknowledges that she is not a parenting expert, however, and much of the general information she presents about motherhood can be found in other, more well-researched parenting books. Puzzlingly, for an author who urges her readers not to “get caught up with the comparison trap of the Instagram moms,” Prosko’s book contains relatively little in-depth research on the impact of social media on motherhood other than citing some examples of bad behavior on the internet, including the torment of a pregnant fitness coach dubbed the “six-pack mom.” In addition, while Prosko’s likable, chatty voice creates intimacy with the reader, after a few chapters, her frequent use of curse words stops feeling fun and starts to feel repetitive. This motherhood manifesto would connect more with readers if the author narrowed her focus slightly and featured more stories from her own fascinating motherhood journey as well as the negative impact of the internet on harried moms.

A bit insubstantial but offers easy, welcome reassurance to moms.