Let’s be real for a second…
Motherhood comes with a LOT of advice.
Unsolicited advice. Outdated advice. “Perfect mom” advice.
And somewhere along the way, I realized…
I don’t agree with all of it.
So here are a few of my unpopular mom opinions—the ones people might side-eye, but I stand on them anyway.
1. You don’t have to enjoy every moment of motherhood.
I love my kids with everything in me.
But every moment? No.
The tantrums, the whining, and such moments when I finally sit down and someone immediately needs something—those aren’t magical.
And that doesn’t make me a bad mom.
It makes me a real one.
2. Kids don’t need a perfectly set routine 24/7.
Listen, routines are helpful, that’s true.
But life isn’t always that neat.
Some days are off. Some nights are late. Some mornings are chaotic.
And guess what? The kids are still okay.
Balance > perfection.
3. Gentle parenting doesn’t mean no discipline.
I think people get this mixed up all the time.
I believe in being patient, understanding, and emotionally sensitive..
But boundaries are still necessary.
My kids are loved and corrected. Both can exist.
4. Screen time isn’t the enemy.
Let’s talk about this honestly.
Sometimes I need 20 minutes to breathe, cook, clean, or just exist.
And if a show helps me do that without losing my mind? Press play.
It’s about moderation, not guilt.
5. You are still a person outside of being “Mom.”
This one right here…
You had dreams, personality, goals, style, and identity before kids.
And you’re allowed to still have all of that now.
Motherhood added to you. It didn’t erase you.
6. Not everyone needs access to your kids.
Just because someone is family or has a title doesn’t mean they automatically get unlimited access.
Peace, safety, and respect come first. Always.
7. You don’t have to explain every parenting choice you make.
People will question you.
“What are they eating?”
“Why are you doing that?”
“Why aren’t you doing this?”
And sometimes the answer is simply:
Because this works for us.
That’s it. No long explanation necessary..
8. Some days, survival is enough.
Not every day is going to be productive, organized, or picture-perfect.
Some days it’s:
✔ Kids are fed
✔ Everyone is safe
✔ You made it through
And truthfully?? That counts.
At the end of the day, motherhood isn’t one-size-fits-all.
What works for me might not work for the next mom—and that’s okay.
I’m learning to trust myself more, tune out the noise, and raise my kids in an approach that feels right for us.
Because being a good mom doesn’t mean being a perfect one.
It means being a present one. A learning one. A growing one.
Until next time—
“Keep learning, keep growing, and keep becoming who you were created to be.”
With Love,
The Really Real Mom Hallie