האמת מאחורי הסלפי המושלם

הבלוגרית הבריטית המצחיקה טובה לי (שהיא בעצם ישראלית, והיתה פה ממש לא מזמן) נהנית מהצלחה רבה מסביב לעולם בזכות השנינות שלה, הגישה החיובית ובעיקר הכנות הבלתי מתפשרת. תמונה שהעלתה לאחרונה זכתה לויראליות בדיוק בגלל תכונות אלה.

Last week I shared the "perfect" selfie on Instagram (see small image on the bottom left). It got a whole lot of "likes", friends told me I was sexy and I even made it my new profile picture on Facebook. Today I am sharing the 'behind the scenes' of that image. How I actually looked when it was taken, without 20 attempts to get it right, without cropping out the bits I don't like and without adding the 'make me look pretty' filter. You see, over in the weekend I read an article about how more and more people are feeling deprest and insecure because of all the images of "perfect" looking people on social media, which they perceive to be real. Well let me tell you something: THIS IS REAL. In all my mum tum, cellulitis, granny pants and absolutely zero thigh gap glory! Not the perfect sexy body by some dictated standard, but imperfectly fabulous because it is real and it is mine. So next time you see a "perfect" image on IG or FB that makes you feel bad remember this: Social media is full of shit. You are beautiful just the way you are. And there is nothing sexier than being real. Tova ♡♡♡ #KeepingItReal #women #fuckbodygoals #BodyImage #moms #mums #motherhood #MomLife #parenting #parents #reallife

A post shared by Tova Leigh (@tova_leigh) on May 29, 2017 at 4:20am PDT

I had to work this weekend. On my way back from a meeting I ran into someone I know who asked me what I was up to, so I told him I was trying to catch up with all the work I missed because the kids were off school for a few weeks. He then asked "but where are your kids now?" and for a moment I actually had to think, because the way he asked it made it sound like they should have been attached to my head. I found myself mumbling: "they are at home with their father... I think". We said our goodbyes and I walked away wondering if something is wrong with me for not feeling one bit guilty about working for a few hours on a Sunday, while my children play happily (ie wreck the house) with my husband at home. I also didn't feel sorry for enjoying my work, or for not wanting to spend every single moment of my day with beautiful three kids. I mean, let's be honest - I love my kids, but sometimes going to work for a few hours is like going on a luxury cruise compared to having to deal with their neverending demands. And I know that admitting that may make me sound like a shit mom, but I would rather be considered a "shit mom" and be happy than try and be some sort of "perfect mom" and slowly lose my mind. Now, I'm not sure if he would have asked my husband the same question, had he run into him without the kids instead of me (doubt it), but that's not the point I am getting at. What I am trying to say is this: whether you are a SAHM or a working mom, whether you like doing arts and crafts for 5 hours with your kids every day or you fucking hate it, whether you run the PTA or barely make it to one event a year - as long as you are doing YOU and your kids are loved and happy, then you are doing just great. #moms #mums #SAHM #workingmons #parents #parenting #kids #mommyshaming #motherhood

A post shared by Tova Leigh (@tova_leigh) on May 1, 2017 at 8:12am PDT