See this stock photo of a woman with six pack abs hooked up to her breast pump peacefully enjoying breakfast while staring through a glass window? It’s just like real life! Even better? There isn’t any tubing attached to those bottles! What exactly is she doing???
Clearly no one, not the photographer, not the woman in the photo, knows anything about motherhood.
This is the photo that started the site “It’s Like They Know Us” which writes sarcastic captions mocking the “moms” in stock photos. You know, the moms who play with their kids on white couches while everyone happily enjoys some salad?
Check this out because it is BRILLIANT.
“It’s Like They Know Us” is run by Sarah Given, a high school orchestra teacher and first time mom to a 14 month-old girl, who used to write for a comedy troupe back in college.
Sara also gives credit to her mom group on facebook, who came up with the idea when one member posted the photo of the magical breast pumping cereal woman. Then the group began searching for more ridiculous stock photos of moms, which unsurprisingly, were very easy to find.
One member of the group suggested someone make a Tumblr out of it, and Sara volunteered.
“I was up all night looking for ridiculous pictures and giggling like a maniac… It’s nice to be producing some kind of funny again, especially when it’s this cathartic.”
Sara says she hopes people get a laugh out of it, but also thinks there is an important message here for struggling new moms.
“I hope new moms can look at these posts and know that it’s not supposed to be perfect. During the first few weeks of my daughters life I was starved for anything that made me laugh through the exhaustion and doubt.”
I asked Sara what she thought a more realistic picture of motherhood would look like.
“It would be different for all of us, but I am guessing there would be fewer white couches and spotless kitchens. Also, no one is happy when they’re pumping at work. NO ONE.”
When speaking about the “they” in “It’s Like They Know Us”, Sara said, “I understand that advertisers and photographers can’t publish an image of a miserable exhausted woman hooked up to a pump. At the same time, if you are that miserable exhausted woman, the idealized imagery can make you wonder if it really should be easier or if you are doing something wrong.”
Excellent point.
Who wants to model for a realistic pumping shot? Anyone? Anyone?
I’ll be waiting over here patiently while my perfectly behaved children drink grape juice without spilling on my white couch.
You can follow “It’s Like They Know Us” on tumblr.
If you have a tip about something funny and parent related, please post it on the Mommy Shorts facebook page.
These are hilarious! I kind of wish that they would also recreate the pictures in a more realistic light. Kind of like the Pinterest “Nailed It” pictures 🙂
Hilarious- thanks for sharing!
Although, Ilana – you ARE the mom with the spotless white couches and beautiful children, so it’s a good thing you also share the real parts of your life with us!
This a fair comment. At least I have the good sense not feed my children on it!
This is amazing. Reminds me of the campaign that Lean In did to get more realistic photos of women in the workplace. Except this is much more funny.
yeh cuz that what it looks like when my toddler dumps his entire toy box over the floor.
These are hilarious! But the cloudy beach one… well, when you live in Oregon, that one actually happens. 🙂 🙂 🙂
Exactly what I was thinking about the beach one. We live in SW Washington and most of our beach picture have us in hoodies and some with boots! We don’t play soccer though. Maybe we’ll try next time
Yes! Pacific Northwest represent! 🙂
It’s funny but… sometimes I really wonder why people have
children if they make you so miserable!! Use contraceptives!!
Because you also have times of sheer, giddy and incredible joy. Also, I found that the first six weeks were the absolute hardest and least enjoyable of my time as a parent. Once my kid started smiling, life got a lot better.
In other words, please don’t be so judgey.
Oh, I’m part of the group that sparked the tumblr, and I def wouldn’t say that it’s about kids making you miserable! It’s just acknowledging that it isn’t the walk in the park that advertisers portray.
I would totally volunteer to have someone take pictures of me pumping while I work, I can show how to be super productive while pumping at work! Being handsfree is amazing!
Bwahahaha! I love all of these. Such a brilliant idea for a site. Thanks for sharing.
I’m in the middle of a ridiculous pumping schedule to try to increase my supply for my newborn. I’m exhausted. I am NOT that happy stock photo. Would you like to see a picture of me during my 11pm pumping session?
These really made me laugh! Why do advertisers need to perpetuate the myth of the perfect mother/family? They want us to think that if we buy their product, we will be perfect too. When in reality, it only gives us an inferiority complex.
I’m howling! Brilliant!
Apparently none of the women who posed for these photos ever had to pump while riding in the passenger seat of the car as your husband drives down the highway because you can’t stop every 3 hours to pump….
So I had to come back and comment on this because I was looking through the pb kids catalog (strangely) came today. It is so over the top ridiculous (I personally like the boys room that opens onto the OCEAN) that it reminded me of this post. Even if I secretly covet most of the products in there.