Mothers On Reddit Expose Flat-Out Innacuracies Of New Parenthood Portrayed On TV

Aug 26, 2021 by apost team

Having a baby is a joyous and momentous occasion for families, but it also comes with plenty of changes and new challenges on a daily basis. Constantly needing to watch a newborn baby day and night and making sure the baby is properly fed, dressed and cared for can be overwhelming for new parents. On top of that, parents have to find a way to change their typical routines as they adapt to having a new person in their life and tending to their child’s every want and need. Everyone’s situation is different, but it’s fair to say that each parent has their own set of struggles that they face during the very early stages of parenthood.

Despite how difficult parenting can be in real life, it rarely seems like that on television, according to a number of Reddit users. In the forum r/beyondthebump, Reddit users talked about what irks them the most about how new parenthood is portrayed on television and how unrealistic a lot of the situations and circumstances are. New parents are met with a wide array of new challenges and expectations following the birth of their first child, and new parenthood can be scary. However, it is typically portrayed as quite simple on television, much to parents’ dislike.

The original Reddit post that created the debate is from July 6, 2021, and has since gone on to receive almost 200 comments with other users explaining their perception of the televised version of parenthood. While some users mentioned shows they believed portrayed parenting in a proper light, the majority expressed how unrealistic TV has constantly portrayed parenthood.

A Reddit user wrote a post about how unrealistic parenting appears on various television shows, especially when it comes to caring for newborns or caring for multiple children all at the same time. While the original poster (OP) mentioned the series “This Is Us,” she made sure to note that she was not limiting her opinions to just this particular show. “Things I see that bug me: first time parents come home from the hospital and immediately settle in with a cup of tea and snuggle on the couch,” she wrote.

However, TV shows rarely portray what happens when parents leave the hospital with their newborns and the struggle and stressfulness of buckling them into a car seat and finally getting home. According to KidsHealth, mothers may feel physically drained, sore or emotional upon getting home for the first time following the birth of their child.

The OP continued and wrote, “new mom lets dad nap for a few hours… and when he wakes up he watches as she effortlessly consoles the twins.” The OP also mentioned just how unrealistic it is when shows depict the characters’ house being “immaculate” despite them having a newborn baby and potentially more children. With all the challenges and anxious feelings that revolve around constantly tending to a newborn, it wouldn’t be unreasonable if parents slacked a bit in keeping their house in tip-top shape.

“Look, I understand you have to suspend some disbelief with TV. And maybe there are actually families like this out there,” the OP wrote. “But it makes me want to scream and honestly inserts that self-doubt I try so hard to overcome in thinking ‘oh my God, maybe I’m just an incompentant mother and it shouldn’t really be this hard.’” 

apost.com

The OP continued expressing her thoughts and explained that parenting is hard; perhaps TV writers shouldn’t create storylines that involve newborns that don’t truly depict just how challenging parenthood is. The OP reasoned that “it just perpetuates unrealistic expectations and magnifies insecurity about being a new parent.”

Other Reddit users agreed with the OP and chimed in with some of their least favorite examples of new parenthood on television. “My biggest pet peeve is the unsafe sleeping practices in tv shows,” one user wrote. “I’m all for bed sharing and whatnot, but for the newborn to be put in a crib with a bunch of blankets and stuffed animals and things that can wrap around their neck when they’re by themselves is ASTONISHING.” Another user discussed the show “Breaking Bad” and how it poorly portrayed parenting. “They have a baby and then have family friends over within a few days, entertaining in their perfectly clean house,” the user wrote.

However, there is some good that has come from television’s portrayal of parenting as some users chimed in with shows that they believed portrayed parenting in a very realistic manner, including “9-1-1” and “The Big Bang Theory.” The former showcased how some mothers can suffer from postpartum depression, while the latter showed just how difficult it can be to calm down a crying baby, resulting in the parents themselves shedding some tears out of their frustration and tiredness. 

Women’s Health reported that one in nine new mothers has postpartum depression, and the article encourages women to seek professional help if their feelings continue or become more intense. Even though watching characters go through hardships on TV can be difficult, it can be important for new parents to see others face similar situations to help them feel less alone.

What do you think about the way new parenthood is portrayed on TV? Let us know, and be sure to pass this on to any parents you know to see what they think, too.