She talks about ‘the other side of motherhood’ and other moms are happy someone finally said it

Everyone with kids has their share of the difficulties of parenting. Having kids is indeed rewarding, but it may not always be satisfying for some.

One mom on TikTok shared that the daily grind of parenting often feels tough.

Parenting influencers often present a picture of perfect lives, with well-behaved kids and spotless homes, making it all seem easy.

However, the reality is quite different. Many parents find it difficult to admit that raising children can be boring, stressful, and exhausting.

As a result, they often feel isolated in their struggles, unaware that many others feel the same way.

These parents praise Celeste Yvonne for her TikTok video, where she admits that parenting can be “deeply unsatisfying.”

Celeste, an award-winning writer and bestselling author, resonates with those who feel the same.

“Okay, here’s my hot take, so don’t come at me. But for the most part, motherhood is deeply unsatisfying. And we don’t talk about it enough,” she began. “I love being a mom and I love my kids dearly, but 90% of my role as a mother is not satisfying.”

Celeste highlights that motherhood can be both thankless and repetitive.

In a video with over 200,000 views, she describes the ongoing tasks, such as getting kids to clean up and eat their meals, as exhausting and ultimately unsatisfying.

“I do not go to bed most nights feeling satisfied in my role as a mother. If anything, I go to be with intrusive thoughts, worrying about their future, feeling like I didn’t do a good enough job,” she continues.

Celeste wraps up her video by urging other moms to discuss this sensitive issue openly.

She explains that seeing other moms on social media highlights the joys of motherhood, which led her to question if she was doing something wrong.

She believes it’s important to address and talk about the less satisfying aspects of parenting.

The video resonated with many moms. Commenters called for more honesty about motherhood, with one saying that although they love their kids, they do not enjoy being a mom.

“Motherhood is a complicated, nuanced topic, but for the most part, we only hear and see the highlight reel,” Celeste told Upworthy when asked why her video resonates with so many parents.

Celeste explained that her daily experience as a mother often differs from what she sees on social media. She openly shares this to help other mothers feel acknowledged and validated.

“In recovery, we talk a lot about the importance of sharing our stories so others feel seen, and if I can be that beacon for anyone struggling with motherhood, addiction, or mental health matters, I will try!” Celeste said.

Meanwhile, Celeste detailed in a follow-up video how social media and influencers like Ballerina Farm‘s Hannah Neeleman can make parents feel inadequate and dissatisfied, according to Scary Mommy.

“I want to talk about the impact of Ballerina Farm on people like me, mothers in the trenches,” she said, pointing out that images of a mom cooking from scratch with helpful, well-behaved kids lead her to question if she’s doing something wrong, regardless of the accuracy of these images.

Comparing your life to influencers’ polished feeds is challenging, especially in parenting.

Celeste hoped her TikTok would inspire more honest talks about parenting difficulties instead of just showcasing perfect moments.

She also clarified that she is not criticizing Ballerina Farm and wishes Hannah joy in her work.

Instead, her goal is to highlight the other side of motherhood, where many moms feel exhausted and drained at the end of the day.

She stressed that these feelings are not due to being a bad mom or doing things wrong but because motherhood is extremely challenging, and they are deeply invested in it.

Watch Celeste talk about the difficulties of parenting on her viral TikTok video:

@theultimatemomchallenge Don’t mistake my words for being ungrateful. There is a huge difference between gratitude and satisfaction. #motherhood #momlife ♬ original sound – Celeste Yvonne | Author