I felt too embarrassed to admit that I wasn’t doing messy play, that I didn’t have an immaculate home and that some days, I was struggling to put a brush through my hair because I was surrounded with women who looked amazing, were smiling and exuded confidence.
So I smiled, and pretended that I had got this parenting lark nailed.
I wore a mask because I couldn’t show the truth.
The things is that they were also wearing a mask. I didn’t know it at the time, but having worked with hundred of mums in the last ten years, I know that most mums are feeling the same as I was – thinking that they are the only ones who aren’t perfect while everyone around them is.
I believe that the more mums are real and honest, the more we will all feel able to show our true selves without fear of shame or judgement.
So, let’s be part of the change and get rid of the masks and the idea of perfectionism.