reviews
Instagram Moms are Full of Sh*t: To Hell with Mom Shaming
Lesley Prosko
FriesenPress
(264pp)
978-1-03-830414-8
Modeling nonjudgmental parenting, Instagram Moms Are Full of Sh*t lightens the heavy load of the decision fatigue that comes with motherhood.
Paramedic Lesley Prosko’s friendly parenting guide Instagram Moms Are Full of Sh*t proffers judgment-free advice for mothers.
Drawing on outside research and Prosko’s personal and professional experiences with myriad childhood ailments, this book includes information on pregnancy, birth, and caring for newborns. There are discussions of conception methods, delivery options, vaccinations, and sleep training; there are comparisons of breastfeeding and formula feeding, bedsharing and crib sleeping, and posting and not posting pictures of babies on social media too. The intimate prose includes swearing and colloquialisms, as with its refrains of “don’t get me wrong” and the disarming use of “heck.” Prosko and the audience are “we”—mothers who “own their mistakes and are just trying their best to raise healthy, decent human beings and laugh through the hard times.”
Its casual voice and nonjudgmental tone are its distinguishing features. But it does include citations of university presses, renowned parenting books, and websites like parents.com and Wikipedia to instill confidence in its perspectives. And there are supportive anecdotes about raising children included as well. Thus, the book reflects a range of topics with the aim of being an unbiased expression of parenting options, instilling confidence in one’s own choices and lightening the heavy load of the decision fatigue that comes with motherhood.
TITLE INFORMATION
INSTAGRAM MOMS ARE FULL OF SH*T
To Hell with Mom Shaming
Lesley Prosko
BOOK REVIEW
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.
For The Love Of The Page
5/5 ⭐️| Instagram Moms are Full of Sh*t: To Hell With Mom Shaming by Lesley Prosko
As if being a mom wasn’t hard enough, we are constantly forced to contend with judgement, societal expectations, and the glamorous life social media portrays to us. Well, as the title suggests “Instagram Moms are Full of Sh*t.” Wrangling toddlers, newborns, and want-to-be adults is not easy. As many moms can attest, we are constantly second guessing ourselves and just trying to do our best. But the second we leave our comfortable little bubble we are up against sometimes relentless judgement.
Just being a woman, we face comments like “so when are you having kids?” When/if we get pregnant, we encounter comments like “you’re eating/drinking that?” When we deliver, we hear things like “wow that baby has so much hair?” as if we have control over these types of things or “you didn’t have a natural birth, you used an epidural,” or my favorite “you had it easy with a c-section.” These are all comments I personally experienced and many women will agree to also having heard themselves. Even the growth charts and milestones are rigged against us as they are used for comparison, “normality,” and perceived measures of “success.” Comparison is a cruel monster, couple that with the already difficult task of parenting and you will never win, as if there even is such a thing.
Author Lesley Prosko provides readers with a sense of relatability. There is no one right way to parent, there’s a reason why the role of mom is so difficult. I felt seen by Prosko, I felt validated, and I felt okay with where I was at. So often there’s this desire to seem put together and perfect, but the fact is we overwhelm ourselves trying look like we have our sh*t together. Learning to embrace the imperfection with the beauty, exhaustion with the fun, and mess with the moment.
Prosko is a mom of two herself. Working in the field of healthcare, trying to be a wife and mother, and having experienced so much in her journey already she uses her experiences, encounters, and research to pen an encompassing roadmap of stopping mom shaming in its tracks. Tackling many myths, differences in techniques, and the guilt, shame, and burnout that can arise, “Instagram Moms are Full of Sh*t” was a refreshing and rejuvenating read.
Beginning with what a mom truly is, to exercise, pregnancy, birthing, feeding, sleeping, working, screentime, and so much more, this book was an eye-opening encounter. No matter how much you think you know, Prosko breaks it down and makes every mom feel seen, with the not-so-subtle reminder to quit mom shaming.
As if being a mom wasn’t hard enough, we are constantly forced to contend with judgement, societal expectations, and the glamorous life social media portrays to us. Well, as the title suggests “Instagram Moms are Full of Sh*t.” Wrangling toddlers, newborns, and want-to-be adults is not easy. As many moms can attest, we are constantly second guessing ourselves and just trying to do our best. But the second we leave our comfortable little bubble we are up against sometimes relentless judgement.
Just being a woman, we face comments like “so when are you having kids?” When/if we get pregnant, we encounter comments like “you’re eating/drinking that?” When we deliver, we hear things like “wow that baby has so much hair?” as if we have control over these types of things or “you didn’t have a natural birth, you used an epidural,” or my favorite “you had it easy with a c-section.” These are all comments I personally experienced and many women will agree to also having heard themselves. Even the growth charts and milestones are rigged against us as they are used for comparison, “normality,” and perceived measures of “success.” Comparison is a cruel monster, couple that with the already difficult task of parenting and you will never win, as if there even is such a thing.
Author Lesley Prosko provides readers with a sense of relatability. There is no one right way to parent, there’s a reason why the role of mom is so difficult. I felt seen by Prosko, I felt validated, and I felt okay with where I was at. So often there’s this desire to seem put together and perfect, but the fact is we overwhelm ourselves trying look like we have our sh*t together. Learning to embrace the imperfection with the beauty, exhaustion with the fun, and mess with the moment.
Prosko is a mom of two herself. Working in the field of healthcare, trying to be a wife and mother, and having experienced so much in her journey already she uses her experiences, encounters, and research to pen an encompassing roadmap of stopping mom shaming in its tracks. Tackling many myths, differences in techniques, and the guilt, shame, and burnout that can arise, “Instagram Moms are Full of Sh*t” was a refreshing and rejuvenating read.
Beginning with what a mom truly is, to exercise, pregnancy, birthing, feeding, sleeping, working, screentime, and so much more, this book was an eye-opening encounter. No matter how much you think you know, Prosko breaks it down and makes every mom feel seen, with the not-so-subtle reminder to quit mom shaming.
Instagram Moms Are Full of Sh*t
Lesley Prosko
Frieson Press (2024)
ISBN: 978-1038304148
Reviewed by Stephanie Elizabeth Long for Reader Views (07/2024)
4*- An engaging book about navigating motherhood in the era of social media
Are you a mom tired of feeling shamed for your parenting choices? Maybe you've had it with
these so-called "perfect moms" posting pictures of their angelic-looking kids, immaculate homes,
and designer outfits, making you feel inadequate. Maybe you're sick of being judged for your
stance on specific issues. In “Instagram Moms Are Fulll of Sh*t: To Hell with Mom Shaming,”
Lesley Prosko reminds you that life is not a highlight reel. Motherhood is beautiful, but it is also
messy and rife with challenges. You're not alone in feeling this pressure. Sometimes, you have to
embrace the chaos, unplug from social media, and quit letting others bring you down.
Prosko delves deep into the issues that cause the greatest divide among mothers, such as birth
plans, vaccinations, breastfeeding versus formula, and so much more. Moms today are notorious
for pitting themselves against one another when they should be lifting each other up; this vastly
stems from the desire to appear superior. Prosko's message is clear: it's time for mothers to unite
and support each other.
Social media is an excellent tool for fostering connection, but it is also a platform for harsh
criticism. It allows people to stand on their proverbial soapboxes and spew misinformation.
Picture an online mom's group shaming another mom for choosing not to vaccinate or a slew of
nasty photo comments about a child enjoying a sugary treat. The author has expertly illustrated
the backlash moms face from keyboard warriors and complete strangers. (As if being a parent
isn't hard enough!)
Prosko's writing takes on a conversational tone, allowing readers to relax and feel like they are
talking to a trusted (and non-judgmental) friend. By sharing her experiences in pregnancy, birth,
newborn, and beyond, Prosko's witty humor and engaging stories will resonate with moms.
Further, the author maintains a neutral position on controversial topics, which fosters acceptance
and solidarity between mothers from all backgrounds.
Moms, it's time to take a deep breath, pour yourself a glass of wine (if that's your thing), and
decompress. Despite all the shaming and unsolicited advice, nobody has motherhood figured out.
(Not even the Instagram mom with glossy hair and a clean house.) At the end of the day, we are
all just winging it, and anyone who tells you differently is lying. Lesley Prosko's absorbing book
“Instagram Moms Are Full of Sh*t” echoes this testament, creating a safe space for all.
Lesley Prosko
Frieson Press (2024)
ISBN: 978-1038304148
Reviewed by Stephanie Elizabeth Long for Reader Views (07/2024)
4*- An engaging book about navigating motherhood in the era of social media
Are you a mom tired of feeling shamed for your parenting choices? Maybe you've had it with
these so-called "perfect moms" posting pictures of their angelic-looking kids, immaculate homes,
and designer outfits, making you feel inadequate. Maybe you're sick of being judged for your
stance on specific issues. In “Instagram Moms Are Fulll of Sh*t: To Hell with Mom Shaming,”
Lesley Prosko reminds you that life is not a highlight reel. Motherhood is beautiful, but it is also
messy and rife with challenges. You're not alone in feeling this pressure. Sometimes, you have to
embrace the chaos, unplug from social media, and quit letting others bring you down.
Prosko delves deep into the issues that cause the greatest divide among mothers, such as birth
plans, vaccinations, breastfeeding versus formula, and so much more. Moms today are notorious
for pitting themselves against one another when they should be lifting each other up; this vastly
stems from the desire to appear superior. Prosko's message is clear: it's time for mothers to unite
and support each other.
Social media is an excellent tool for fostering connection, but it is also a platform for harsh
criticism. It allows people to stand on their proverbial soapboxes and spew misinformation.
Picture an online mom's group shaming another mom for choosing not to vaccinate or a slew of
nasty photo comments about a child enjoying a sugary treat. The author has expertly illustrated
the backlash moms face from keyboard warriors and complete strangers. (As if being a parent
isn't hard enough!)
Prosko's writing takes on a conversational tone, allowing readers to relax and feel like they are
talking to a trusted (and non-judgmental) friend. By sharing her experiences in pregnancy, birth,
newborn, and beyond, Prosko's witty humor and engaging stories will resonate with moms.
Further, the author maintains a neutral position on controversial topics, which fosters acceptance
and solidarity between mothers from all backgrounds.
Moms, it's time to take a deep breath, pour yourself a glass of wine (if that's your thing), and
decompress. Despite all the shaming and unsolicited advice, nobody has motherhood figured out.
(Not even the Instagram mom with glossy hair and a clean house.) At the end of the day, we are
all just winging it, and anyone who tells you differently is lying. Lesley Prosko's absorbing book
“Instagram Moms Are Full of Sh*t” echoes this testament, creating a safe space for all.
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Don't forget to leave a review on Amazon or through the Contact page.
Thanks for your support!